THE WHITE ROSE

UNEDITED SAMPLE LITERARY ARTICLE
By Marian Denise Glipo Basallote
IV-Madame Marie Curie


I watched him from afar. His image was distant yet lucid. He was radiating a special kind of brightness that constantly pierced through my eyes. He nearly got me blinded, but I still continued to fix my gaze upon him. I just could not resist. A surge of serenity and peace was flooding my heart. An outburst of happiness was filling up my entire being.

I walked gracefully as I brushed the thin strands of hair that tried to cover up my face. I was extremely cautious with my actions. I was also fastidious about my appearance. I wore a pink dress that was adorned with garish sequins. I looked elegant and poised. Anyone would notice me. But, as I passed by him, he turned his back on me. His hazel eyes were directed to somewhere else. He was too enthralled by the effulgence coming out from it. He didn’t dare catch a glimpse of me. I was not noteworthy in his eyes. I emitted a faint light that was never enough to grab his attention.

I watched him again, still from afar. He looked stunning even in his simple outfit. His hair, as always, was well groomed. He was holding three stems of red roses on his hands. I had envisaged the happenings that were about to occur. This predictable kind of scene has always been familiar to me. I tried to play it on my mind and imagined myself accepting the lovely roses. I knew I was being ambitious, but I saw nothing wrong with it. It was just my fantasy after all. Reality had begun to take over everything when she came. He handed out the roses to her. She said thank you in a very sweet manner. She was wearing the most attractive smile I have ever seen. She was illuminating a kind of radiance that any other girl would desire to have.

I watched them from afar. I found them holding each other’s hand. They were shining so bright. The light was too overwhelming that I could not look at them any longer. I walked away as I experienced the crack of doom. The tenuous fibers of hope were gradually wearing down inside my heart. I was caught in sorrow and pain. I tried to vanquish these emotions for they had certainly done me no good. I wanted to drown all my thoughts of him in a sea of oblivion.

I walked aimlessly as the distance between us grew farther away. Although my heart was fraught with gloom, I still could not resist looking back. I knew it was a futile thing to do, but I took furtive glances of them. I watched them as they continued to hold hands. She was still holding tight to those red roses I wished were mine. In a very short span of time, the soft petals of her roses were already shriveling. They were gradually losing the pulchritude they once boasted about.

I never stopped watching them. I witnessed how the beaming light coming from them had faded into an unknown void. Their hands were slowly slipping away from each other’s touch. She was suddenly losing grip of the red roses on her hands. Not long after, they were already walking on separate and opposite paths. I had to stop walking for I could not believe what I was seeing. I was in a complete and utter shock.

I watched him all alone. He was walking towards my direction. However, he was no longer in brightness; instead, he was concealed behind a mournful shadow. I knew that his heart was moaning in anguish and despair. I simply could not stand the sight of him being in a grave state of solitude. I needed to do something that could draw him away from such living hell. I knew I was helpless, but I still tried all means to allay even just an ounce of his pain and sufferings.

I started walking to get near him. I did not dress up elegantly anymore. Unlike before, I just looked plain and naïve, though I still kept my poise. I was no longer concerned about the superficial matters of life. I only cared about the people who mattered most to me. After some time, I finally reached his shadow. I watched him closely for the first time ever. His hazel eyes looked bleak and dull. His face appeared haggard and unhappy. So, it naturally surprised me when I heard his words without any trace of loneliness or pain. I guessed that he was just being strong for himself.

We walked together and talked about our personal lives. He did not need to explain much for I have always known and watched over him. I tried to paint a smile on his face as often as I possibly could. We were getting along so well that we both failed to notice the different kind of light glowing from us. It started out dim, but it then slowly shimmered, as a star would always do. We found ourselves caught in such intense brightness.

I watched him still near me. He was offering me a single stem of white rose. At first, I was dubious to accept the beautiful rose on his hands. I had fears of getting hurt by its thorns, but I eventually realized the purity and loyalty of his intentions. I took a great risk and laid out all my trust and faith in him. He took a gentle grasp on my hand as I held the white rose on my other hand.

Now, we are still walking along the same path together. We are locked in a tender embrace while a brilliant light is constantly surrounding us. If you are wondering about the white rose, I am still nurturing it with unconditional love and care. Some of its petals may have already fallen apart, but you could still see and appreciate the refined beauty it once possessed. It is a white rose that is bound to transcend time, age and even life.