三枝黄玫瑰

I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying groceries. I wasnt hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 37 years was still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.

Rudy often came with me and almost every time hed pretend to go off and look for something special. I knew what he was up to. Id always spot him walking down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his hands. Rudy knew I loved yellow roses.

With a heart filled with grief， I only wanted to buy my few items and leave， but even grocery shopping was different since Rudy had passed on. Shopping for one took time， a little more thought than it had for two.

Standing by the meat， I searched for the perfect small steak and remembered how Rudy had loved his steak. Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blond， slim and lovely in a soft green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large pack of T-bones， dropped them in her basket， hesitated， and then put them back. She turned to go and once again reached for the pack of steaks.

She saw me watching her and she smiled.“My husband loves T-bones， but honestly， at these prices， I dont know.” I swallowed the emotion down my throat and met her pale blue eyes. “My husband passed away eight days ago，” I told her. Glancing at the package in her hands， I fought to control the tremble in my voice. “Buy him the steaks. And cherish every moment you have together.” She nodded her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed the package in her basket and wheeled away.

I turned and pushed my cart across the length of the store to the dairy products. There I stood， trying to decide which size milk I should buy. A quart， I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream section near the front of the store. If nothing else， I could always fix myself an ice cream cone. I placed the ice cream in my cart and looked down the aisle toward the front.

I saw first the green suit， then recognized the pretty lady coming towards me. In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the brightest smile I had ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled her blonde hair as she kept walking towards me， her eyes holding mine. As she came closer， I saw what she held and tears began misting in my eyes.

“These are for you，”she said and placed three beautiful long stemmed yellow roses in my arms. “When you go through the line， theyll know these are paid for.” She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek， then smiled again.

I wanted to tell her what shed done， what the roses meant， but still unable to speak， I watched as she walked away， tears clouding my vision. I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled in the green tissue wrapping and found it almost unreal. How did she know？ Suddenly the answer seemed so clear. I wasnt alone.

“Oh， Rudy， you havent forgotten me， have you？” I whispered， with tears in my eyes. He was still with me， and she was his angel.

我走进这个杂货店并不是特意买东西，我不饿。失去了共同生活三十七年的丈夫，我的心中至今依然感到深深的刺痛，而这个杂货店曾留下过太多的甜蜜回忆。

鲁迪经常和我来这儿，但几乎每次都借故走开，去寻找些特别的东西。我知道他想干啥。我总是看见他手拿三枝黄玫瑰，沿过道走过来。鲁迪知道我喜欢黄玫瑰。

我满怀悲伤，只想买几件东西就离开。自从鲁迪去世后，就连买东西也感觉异样了。买一个人的东西费时间，（因为）比原先买两个人的东西时想得更多一点。

我站在售肉区旁，搜寻着最好的小牛排，（不由）想起鲁迪对牛排是多么地爱吃。突然一位妇女来到我身边。她身着淡绿色套装，一头金发，身材颀长，漂亮动人。我看到她拿起一大包T字骨嫩牛排放进车篮里，犹豫着，又放了回去。转身要走时，她却又伸手去拿那包牛排。

她见我瞧着她，笑着说：“我丈夫喜欢吃T字骨嫩牛排，但说实话，我不知道价格那么贵。”我稳定了一下情绪，望着她浅蓝色的眼睛，告诉她：“我丈夫八天前去世了。”瞥了一眼她手里的牛排包，我竭力抑制住声音的颤抖，说：“给他买下这包牛排吧，珍惜你们共同拥有的每一刻。”她点了点头，在把牛排放进车篮里推车走开的时候，我能看出她眼里的激动。

我掉转身，推着购物车从商店一端推到另一端，来到了乳制品区。站在那儿，我思忖着该买多少容量的牛奶。在最终决定一夸脱后，我接着走到靠近店的前部的冰激淋区。如果没什么可买的，我一向给自己买一个蛋卷冰激淋。我把冰激淋放进购物车，顺着过道望向店的前部。

我看到了那身绿套装，随后意识到是那位俏丽的女士朝我走来。她胳膊抱着一束东西，脸上带着我所见过的最灿烂的微笑。她走向我的时候，我敢发誓一圈柔和的光环绕着她的金发，她的眼睛直视着我，她的目光令我目不转睛地注视着她。她走得越来越近，我这才看清了她抱着的东西，泪水开始模糊了我的双眼。

“这些是给您的，”说着，她把三枝美丽的长梗黄玫瑰放在我的怀里。“您走过那排顾客的时候，他们就会知道这些已经付过钱了。”她探过身，在我的脸颊上轻轻一吻，然后又露出了微笑。

我真想告诉她：她所做的对我意味着什么，这些玫瑰又意味着什么，但却说不出话来。我目送着她走开，泪水模糊了我的视线。低头瞅着安卧在绿色薄包装纸里的美丽玫瑰花，我感觉这情景几近幻梦。她是怎么知道的？突然间答案似乎一清二楚：我并非独自一人。

“哦，鲁迪，你没有忘记我，不是吗？”我喃喃自语，热泪盈眶。他仍然和我在一起，而她就是他（派来）的天使。