She Smelled Like Roses

She smelled like roses.

It was right after I woke up, I could smell the scent of them.

She wasn't beside me, her covers were tossed over a bit. Her side of the bed felt cold, meaning she had gotten out a while ago. I wanted to stay in the warm embrace of the bed, but it was nothing compared to her. So I got up.

The scent filled the house, but she wasn't here, in the house. I get rid of my hunger, having a bit of cereal. By the time I finished, I was already starving for her: her touch, her kiss, her. He didn't know how he could hold it off.

The door open and shut as he went out, and the scent was weaker. When did she leave? A few minutes? An hour? A day? Weeks? Years?

Why did it matter? He needed to find her.

He followed the trail, the scent was almost visible, it being so strong, so powering. It lead him to the flower garden, the one they kept. Even after her sisters left, she kept every plant alive. Roses, lilies, sunflowers. Peonies, lilacs, forget-me-nots. Not like he could forget her. She changed him so much. Now he took care of the garden. It was last thing he had of her.

The garden looked beautiful. Fresh, colorful, blooming. This was all because of her care. Her touch made them grow. Her voice made them bloom. Just her being there made the colors burst a little.

I moved on. The scent of all the other flowers clogged up his nose, and he was confused. He couldn't find her like this. He sat there, letting his sense of smell return.

He continued, eventually reaching the town. The town could be like any other town, but he wouldn't know. It was the only town he knew. He passed through the market, where ponies were mulling about, buying and selling, socializing, all that. He paid them no mind. To him, their mouths moved, but no sound came out. They moved, but it was like a blur to him. They could've called out his name, and he wouldn't hear.

He continued to follow the scent.

It lead him to the field. This was the place they played when they were young, before the first traces of love bubbled up. He and her played with each other, and with their friends. None of them knew the pain and struggle of growing up, none of them knew the troubles and fighting, none of them knew the love possible. They were young and naive. But it was long gone. He still remember the times he rolled around in the grass, when they played in the pond. He sometimes wish he didn't. But he did.

It began to rain lightly. The scent began to fade in the rain. He began to panic. He couldn't lose her scent! He had to find her! He began sprinting down the field, as fast as his hooves could carry him.

The scent was gone. He stopped running, now completely covered in mud. Why? Why would he be left behind? Didn't she love him? Did she love somepony else?

He was by the forest now. He met her here, by the edge. Something of hers blew into the trees because of a gust of wind. I decided to get it for her, as she was scared. I quickly found it, because the forest worried me too. The item was…

a single rose.

In the dark, gloomy forest, the rose shined in a brilliant red, contrasting from the area around it, everything turning gray around the rose. It was like the most beautiful piece of art in the world.

I exited the forest and gave it back to her. She stared at it, and she looked happy. That made me feel warm, seeing her like that. I felt the first pull of love for her, to go beyond our friendship - not like I truly understood it, but I soon would.

She embraced me with a hug, one I returned to her. She trotted off, holding the rose in her mouth.

Months later, she gave me a rose. She took the one I gave her and grew more. The one she gave me was almost as beautiful as the one in the forest. But now that I was next to her, her beauty washed over everything else.

And she pronounced her love for me. I was surprised. I thought my feelings wouldn't - couldn't - be returned. But they were. We embraced. Our lips touched, and I was in bliss. She was…perfect. We created a relationship more than friends, we became two truly in love. These feeling almost overwhelmed me. But she helped me.

I smell the scent again. It came from the forest. She never wanted to go in the forest. Why would she go now?

I begin to weave through the trees, above the plant life, under the branches. I kept going deeper, the scent still getting stronger. But there's another scent. Why was she with another? I came to a clearing, and I saw her. She was sitting by a stone. No, a grave. I went up to her. I knew who was on the grave, but I didn't want to read it. I had, and it made me feel heartbroken every time.

I embrace her, feel her warmth. There are no words that need to be said, because we both know what we were going to be said. What had to be said.

I let go of her. I didn't want to open my eyes, see her gone again, like every other time. It hurts too much.

But I open my eyes.

She's gone.

Instead, I see the grave. Like every other time I have read it.

Roseluck

My forever lasting love

I will never forget

I close my eyes. She was truly gone, yet I didn't accept it. How could I go on without her?

I went on with my life  without her. I am still thinking about her, but…I need to forget. For the best.

~

She smelled like roses.

It was right after I woke up, I could smell the scent of them.

But it was weak. Unlike my dream, the scent of the roses were far away.

I got up and went to the garden. Every flower were still growing, except the roses. They were already in bloom.

I went to them and picked one. I traveled to her grave. Roseluck's grave.

I placed the rose on it. Brilliant in the solemn graveyard.

Why did she leave? I don't know. She didn't want to leave, but life has other plans.

I miss her. I really do. As I sit by the grave, I still can smell traces of her scent.

She smells like roses.