A Wildwood Rose

Title: A Wildwood Rose
Characters: Dillon and Gary
Authors: Gary with a little help from Carol
Author's Note: Inspired by Steve Walker's The Message
No warning all mistakes are mine.

I saw him as soon as I entered the apartment. He was sitting on the floor; I heard him sniff and then saw his body shaking with small trimmers from crying. At first I thought he was hurt, and I moved beside him instantly. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and pulled him into a hug.

"I miss them so much," he told me. He placed his head on my shoulder, and grasped me tightly as before he broke down into deep sobs.

"It's alright love, I have you." I pulled him closer. A shoe of cards and letters was sitting at his feet, and he was holding a card in his hand. I gently took it from him, and began to read it. The front cover had a simple greeting,

For You

A wild flower for our wild one.

Love you,

Mom and Dad

Pasted just below his parents' signature was a dried lavender wildwood rose.

There were no words I could offer to make it better, so I just held him tight. I kissed the top of his head and felt a single tear slip down my cheek.