The White Rose. Madilina Tresca

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      'Yes,' replied Ivy Rose quietly.

      'Mum, is everything alright? You sound strange.'

      'I'm fine. You do what you feel you must do. I'll call you later.' Ivy Rose hung up.

      Skyla believed her mother to be upset with her but in actual fact Ivy Rose had sat in silence, looking at her husband. He understood what that look meant. He gently placed his hand on his wife's as Ivy Rose softly said, 'It has begun.' He nodded in agreement.

      Skyla turned right into Coonanbarra Road and a flood of memories enveloped her. She felt a mixture of emotions. She drove up the road and parked her car outside number 13. The front garden was immaculately kept as she remembered. Mrs Woodley had always been proud of her front garden.

      As she walked up the driveway, she wondered who would answer the doorbell. The Woodleys may have moved since the breakup. Skyla was now on the verandah facing the door. She straightened her clothes, quickly looked around her surroundings again, took in a deep breath and rang the doorbell. Ryan's mother opened the door. She had aged considerably and looked much older than her real age. This took Skyla by surprise. Mrs Woodley and her mother were about the same age.

      'Mrs Woodley, it's me, Skyla,' struggled Skyla.

      It took some time and when she remembered, Mrs Woodley was overcome with joy. She hugged Skyla and begged her to come in. Incredibly relieved, Skyla stepped into the house. The house had not changed in fourteen years. For a moment, Skyla was twenty years old again and expected to see Ryan lying on the couch with his dad watching the cricket.

      Skyla followed Mrs Woodley into the kitchen where she was invited to sit down. Again, Skyla fought back tears as happy memories came back to her of the many fun and happy meals she had shared at this very table with Ryan and his family. Mrs Woodley made tea.

      The women sat in silence sipping the brew. Both were buried in their memories about Ryan. Skyla broke the silence. Mrs Woodley was all too happy to talk about Ryan. Skyla needn't have worried. Mrs Woodley had always loved her as a second daughter and that had not changed.

      Ryan had died, some time ago, Skyla learnt. Mrs Woodley gave Skyla her moment to cry. Ryan had been her first love and she had not known that he had died. She felt a shiver as she flashed back to the man she had spotted at the park moments earlier. Mrs Woodley had apparently called Skyla's mother with the news but it had never been passed onto Skyla.

      'Is it true? Did my son see the white rose?' asked Mrs Woodley.

      Skyla was horrified to learn that Ryan's mother had known about the rose. Mr Woodley and Ryan's sister had never really understood the reason why Ryan had called off the engagement nor the change in his personality, especially the disfiguration of his face. It had not been until Cherie had read Mirela's Rose and insisted that her mother read it as well.

      'What makes you say that Ryan saw this white rose? I mean this is nonsense. It doesn't make sense. I find it hard to believe that our Town Hall Station is haunted by a white rose,' Skyla looked down at her cup of tea.

      Mrs Woodley placed her hand on Skyla's arm. Skyla stopped talking and looked at her.

      'Cherie … you do remember Cherie, don't you?' asked Mrs Woodley.

      'Yes! She was like a big sister to me,' answered Skyla.

      'After your father called us to tell us what had happened, Cherie had a hunch where Ryan would have headed off to,' continued Mrs Woodley.

      'Wahroonga Park,' nodded Skyla.

      'That's right,' agreed Mrs Woodley.

      Wahroonga Park had always been Ryan's favourite sanctuary to go to when he needed to be alone with his thoughts. Ryan and Skyla had had many romantic moments in that park.

      'Cherie found him pacing up and down. It was pouring rain, so dark with thunder that Cherie could barely make out the outline of Ryan,' recalled Mrs Woodley. She relayed to Skyla the scene that had taken place that night at the park.

      'Ryan! Ryan!' had yelled Cherie.

      Ryan was on his knees clutching at a bunch of roses and his skin bleeding from the pricks of their thorns. He had not heard his sister. Cherie ran up to him.

      'Come on Ryan! My car is parked across the road. Let's get you home quickly!' shouted Cherie.

      As she went to lift his arm to help him get up, a flash of lightening lit up in the sky and Cherie caught sight of Ryan's face. It was disfigured. It scared her. With all the strength she could master, she lifted her brother and dragged him to the car. He was unrecognisable. It was luck that they lived just around the corner from the park. She whispered lovingly to Ryan.

      'Let's get you home fast baby brother!'

      'Then what happened, Mrs Woodley?' implored Skyla.

      Mrs Woodley sat in silence. She appeared to be in her own world as she re-lived the events of that night.

      'Cherie walked in the front door and yelled for me to come downstairs.' Mrs Woodley became emotional. 'My boy looked nothing like my son. We sat him on the couch and,' she paused.

      'And what Mrs Woodley?'

      'He said the strangest things,' continued Mrs Woodley.

      'Like what?'

      'He said, Rose … never return … death … seven.'

      'Huh? It doesn't make sense! What did he mean? What was he talking about?' said a perplexed Skyla.

      Mrs Woodley looked at Skyla, 'I don't know my dear.'

      'Did he say anything else?' Skyla was sounding almost desperate.

      Mrs Woodley shook her head and began to cry. Skyla put her arm around her. Mrs Woodley missed her son terribly.

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