True love's rest

Dugan walked through the valley, sure he would find her - the girl, the dream. “Candra,” he said to himself remembering the girl who had stolen his heart. Walking here now he felt foolish, an old man searching for a child.  A girl he loved - the girl he lost. She couldn’t possibly be here his mind would reason. How could she be? Sixty years had passed since that day, forever etched in his memory.1

As he slowly walked along the rivers edge, his mind insisted on returning to that day. Dugan almost laughed out loud when he realised, that he couldn't remember what he'd had for breakfast. Yet still remembered her face, her beautiful golden locks, her mesmerising green eyes and he could still recall that she smelled just like a rose. 2

"Promise me," the words whispered past his ear.  3

Dugan stopped, "Candra, is that you?" he asked looking around.  "I kept my promise," he said to the emptiness that surrounded him. 4

A gentle breeze ruffled through his grey hair. He felt like an old fool, talking to a memory. A lifetime had passed since that wonderful day on the river's edge.  In the years that followed he had often thought that he had dreamed her.  Nothing in real life could ever be that perfect.5

He met her here, at the river’s edge. She was wild, part of the land. A child in every way, she believed in fairies, dragons and ghouls. Her faith was infectious; just being near her, he almost believed it too. She would lie among the fallen leaves of autumn, not a care in the world. She was as free as a bird and no sad thought could enter her world.6

"When you see a white rose, you’ll remember me?" 7

In his minds eye he saw her ask, remembering the game she loved to play. He had indeed kept his word, every time he saw a white rose, he would remember the girl from his dreams. 8

"I love you so," he said to the whispering wind.   "I am old, my life close to the end. Let me see you once more before I die," he beseeched that wind.9

"Never let go," the wind breathed past him again.10

"I must my time has come, Candra don’t let me die alone," he said dropping to his knees.11

He had made his choice all those years ago. He left her there, to live his life. A life well spent by all accounts. A wife and three sons, a life many would envy.  Yet a gaping hole had persisted in his life, a missing part he could never find. His wife was long since past and his sons grown men. Dugan found himself alone and longed to return to the moment of his greatest happiness, by Candra's side. 12

Whether it was a dream or not, he needed to she her one more time.  He sat down at the water's edge, the same place where he had last seen Candra. 13

"What did you expect you senile old fool, there was no girl," he said throwing a stone into the water.14

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Dugan turned and saw the mesmerising green eyes from his dreams. He stared in wonder at the face in front of him, still as young and beautiful as before. 15

"I waited," she said offering her hand to him. "Come with me,"16

Dugan took her hand, standing in front of her tears filling his eyes and said softly, "I am an old man and you are still a beautiful child. I missed you my love, my missing part," 17

"You have not aged," Candra said a confused look on her face. 18

Dugan looked at his reflection in the water, true enough, there he stood looking not a day over fifteen.  "How can this be?" he asked studying the face in the water. 19

"I will be your ghost of a rose," she said dancing into the sunset, "Come,"20

Dugan laughed and danced with his dream girl while the beautiful colours played on the horizon. 21

"I love you so, never let go," she said pulling him closer.22

"I promise," he said wrapping his arms around her.23

They found him at the river’s edge the next day. His son thought it rather strange, that they would find him there, smiling, his hand grasping a single white rose.24