Gardenias

From: Sharron Clayton (sclayton.k-12stagg)
Story type: Ghost
Location: school
Source: Form Submission

My grandmother had always loved the smell of gardenias. She wore the perfume, had her room decorated with the beautiful flower, and every time she went anywhere she wore the large, white, sweet smelling flower either in her hair or on her lapel.

One evening shortly before she died, I asked her why she liked gardenias so much, She explained that my grandfather always gave her gardenias and the last time she saw him before he was shipped off to fight in the war, he put one of the largest gardenias she had ever seen in her hair.

I remember the look on her face as she spoke of her love for my grandfather who had died in that war. I asked, "Did you get to see him again before he was killed?" "No, but now I feel that he is with me all the time." "You really loved grandpa a lot, didn't you?" "Oh, my dear child, there are no words that could explain our love. It was a once in a lifetime feeling and that's why I have never married again. He was a gentle, caring, handsome man. Sometimes I miss him so."

In the last days of her life, my grandmother became weak and could not get out of bed. Often she would mumble in her sleep as if she were talking to someone. Those last days, she never fully woke up.

One morning, I came in to check on her and to put lotion on her body. Coming through the door, I had an overwhelming smell of gardenias. The room was brighter and gone was the smell of medicine. Suddenly, I realized that the whole room was covered in gardenias. As I approached her bed, I noticed that my grandmother was dressed in a white satin evening gown and a large gardenia was attached to her hair! She had a beautiful smile as if dreaming of some wonderful encounter.

I reached out to take her hand but, it was cold as ice! I ran yelling for my mom, "Something's wrong with grandma! Come quick!"

Mom ran to grandma. She spent a moment at her side. "She's passed" and started to cry. I cried too.

Looking at grandma I said, "she must have really enjoyed all the flowers and the beautiful dress you put on her, she looks so content."

"I never gave her any flowers and I sure didn't put that dress on her!"

As I reached to smooth her hair, I noticed that the gardenia pinned in her hair was pinned a set of wings. The type they used during WWII, in the airforce. Yes, grandmother did see grandfather again...