That Smile

 

    The Owner of the White Mansion was sipping his favourite herbal tea, sliding the screen of his iPad on The Mayne Herald pages, not giving his attention to any breaking news headers written at all. He was then joined by a man in a cream-coloured sweater, followed by a lady with a long chiffon Hijjab. The three of them had their usual quiet and peaceful breakfast at the long dining table facing the Ava mountain. None of them seemed to bother by the fact that they were all already late for work. They waited and just waited in the silence.

    The sound of door closing from the third floor of the Mansion brought all the eyes to the stairs as they waited, nearly forgetting to breathe air.

    A familiar lady appeared, walking down the stairs towards them. She smiled and took a long while before saying, 

"ただいま"

    Soneclar breathed out a long, soft sigh of relief as his last memory with the lady 7 years ago flashed in his head upon hearing her voice. The burden of being the last person talking to her that year, that evening, yet unable to save her from leaving, has been haunting him all along. That morning, that smile, that voice, had all the burden he has been carrying for seven years lifted. He is one the most astounding man, presence and speech sought after throughout Mayne. Yet that morning, it took him the longest, to utter, "Welcome back"

Returning to the White Mansion would mean

Facing the memory of the past.

Mending the wound of those I have unknowingly hurt.

Embracing the heart that has never doubts my return.

Forgiving and accepting.

    The immense feelings of relief, longing and guilt embroidered in the "Welcome Back" uttered by Sonenclar put the lady in a long silence.

 

"Doctor..." called the lady softly

    Soneclar held his tears, missing that tone of voice, calling him. He then answered, 

"Yes..?"

"I plucked some roses from your garden this morning"

     Hearing the statement, he laughed weakly in disbelief. His eyes were quickly directed to the roses she was holding and the roses in the glass vase on the dining table. He could somehow guess where their conversation is heading to, but decided to play along, asking in return,

"Which garden?"

"The Peach Rose garden..."

Soneclar gave off a subtle disbelief look, bracing himself for the coming news of his fallen beloved Peach Rose garden.

"Some?..."

"Actually all..." said Hanne, flashing her bright mischievous smile they all missed.

 Yuko who has been glued to her seat, doubting her eyes, finally realized that she was not dreaming. She ran towards the lady, pulling her for a hug, whispering, "Rascal..." 

"Do you know how hard it was to grow those roses...?" asked Soneclar

That lady smiled as she stated confidently. "I will grow them back, this is my first promise..." 

That smile 

Is priceless and rare
That smile 
Is brighter than the sun that morning.
That smile
Surely worth beyond the plucked roses.