Chapter 4: The White Envelope, The Blue Tulips Seeds, and The Man

Aurelius Azure POV

As I walked on the hallway of the hospital, memories keeps coming back to me.

Those painful and happy events that has happened on this place.

I can still remember the joy to the voices of my parents and Asha when we found out that I have now a cornea donor

and soon I can have my eyesight back after a year of being blind.

"You heard that Azure? I told you that a blessing will come" I heard the mixture of joy and sobs in Asha's voice.

"Asha's right. Thank God and you'll be able to see again" You can also hear the joy and gladness on mother's voice but you can also hear a little pain on it.

Like, she was trying to hide it, if you won't listen to it carefully, you won't notice it.

Why? Does mother don't want me to see again?

"Mom, are you crying? Why do I have this feeling that something is off?" I asked puzzledly to my mother as I furrowed my forehead trying to think why her voice sounded like that.

"It was not like that Azure" Asha inserted as I heard that mother wiped her tears because father offered her his handkerchief

"Your mother is crying because of pure happiness brought by the news" Asha continue as she held my hand as she sat beside me here in the waiting area.

I caressed the side of her face as I smiled at her direction and I felt her lean her head to my hand.

I smiled more because of it, how I wished to see her while she do that.

"Your mother shed tears of joy Azure" father said, reassuring and supporting Asha's statement and I nodded still keeping the direction of my head to where Asha is.

"If that's the case, can we take a group picture today?" I said asking for a favor to my parents and Asha

"As a memory of today's news?" I added looking forward for their approval

"Mr. Smith? Sir!" I was back to my reverie as the nurse said it while snapping her fingers in front of me, trying to get my attention.

I didn't notice I got stuck from the memory of that day.

I turned my head to her inside the nurse station, lean my arms at the same time clasping the space of my hands as a sign I am giving her my full attention

"I'm sorry, I was thinking of something" I said apologetically

"It's okay Mr. Smith" replied the nurse while smiling as she place the folder which contains my information on the counter

"Here's what you asked on the phone Mr. Smith" she added and I opened it as I said my thank you to her.

The folder did only contain of my information such as, when did I took my operation and what happened on that day and so on.

There was no information of my donor, Asha.

I looked at the nurse hesitantly as she was already busy in front of the computer maybe coding some patients information.

"Excuse me again nurse" I asked and smiled awkwardly at her. She raised her head and smiled bac

"Yes sir" she said as formality is evident on her voice.

"Can t-there be a chance for me to look at my donor's file?" I asked hopefully.

I know it is forbidden to asked for any information like that

"I'm sorry Mr. Smith but I can't show it to you" she replied which made my hopes gone.

"But there was something that your donor left for you" She added which made my hopes up again.

She stood up and went to the human size cabinets that contains some folders.

She then pulled one folders that I think might be Asha's folders, she pulled out a white envelope inside the brown folder.

She put back the folder and walked back to the counter and handed out the white envelop using her both hands and I receive the white small envelope

"I remember, your donor itself left that envelope, the day before your surgery" the nurse said after I receive the envelope from her and she then sat back to her chair

" She said that, if ever that you went looking for her information, she asked us to hand that to you" she added and I said my gratitude to the nurse before leaving the building.

I am now inside my car sitting and unmoving. I hadn't left the hospital after I went out there,

I'm still here at the parking lot, staring intently at the white envelope as I hold it tightly with my both hands.

Contemplating if I should open it or not, afraid of what might be inside it but I choose the latter.

A safe option for me I guess. I started the engine after putting it at the compartment and drove away from the parking lot of the hospital.

I am planning to visit Asha's funeral right now but I think I still don't have the courage to look inside her casket.

On my way to the funeral home, I passed by a flower shop and so I did a quick U-turn, parked the car in front of it and went inside.

As you open the door the first thing you'll hear were the chimes, informing everyone inside that someone came in and then you will be welcome by the fragrance of flowers.

Lastly, a peaceful, calming and beautiful scenery of different flowers and small trees that were grouped nicely.

Different small potted flowers are aligned in a straight line making a pathway and then maybe ten feet there will be a cross path in the center of the store.

Behind the small potted flowers are the medium size potted flowers and then followed by tree saplings,

and behind those tree saplings are the bigger potted tree and it was surrounded by bigger potted flowers.

A woman in her maybe mid 50's approached me with a sweet smile plastered in her face

"what do we have here? looking for flowers to give for someone?" she said as she stood just three feet away from me

"Hi, I am Rossie, the shop owner" she added and extend her hands for a handshake which I accepted with a smile

"Hello, I am Aurelius Azure but you can call me Azure" I said and withdraw my hands after our handshake

"I am planning to buy some.." I said as I look around the place lit by the natural light

"Do you have by chance any tulips? If possible, blue tulips?" I added and then look at her

She answered me with a smiled that made me smiled back at her

"Yes we do and it just bloom recently" and then she led the way and I just followed her while still looking around.

"You had a beautiful store" I can't stop to praise and I heard her chuckled softly before answering me

"Thank you, I owned this since I was young. it was still very small" She said then turned left and I followed

"My husband, who died from cancer 20 years ago help me with this business of mine" she continued which made me stop for a bit and then continued

"Condolence" I said in a low voice which I'm certain she heard because I saw her nodded

"It's fine, it was 20 years ago and I've moved on and now happily living with my twin sons" she added and then stop on her tracks and bent down while she pick up a potted blue tulips.

I looked at where she picked it up and saw other tulips in different colors

"Here's your blue tulips". I smiled at her as I received the tulips.

I was about to go to the cashier when I went back to her and asked something

"Do you perhaps sells seeds of these blue tulips?" I asked as I smiled at her shyly.

"I don't but I can give you some, just wait and I'll come back" she said and the turned her back at me as I was about to decline because it was embarrassing but I didn't have a chance.

After a few minutes she came back with a small satchel and gave it to me which made me think.

Why would she give me a satchel and not a bag of seeds?

"Here, it's free for you since I got a feeling that those tulips are important to you" She said and I accepted it shyly and decided not to ask why she gave me a satchel

"Thank you" I said and carry it then went ahead to the cashier.

I looked back at where I left her standing but she was not there anymore

She was now entertaining a man just as tall as I am, wearing a black cap and shades on, and a long black coat, white shirt and black long fitted pants that has vertical slit,

wearing white converse shoes and hiding his face with a black mask.

I then finish what I had to do and went outside.

I glanced again inside the shop through the glassed wall and I saw how Rossie's eyes went wide open while looking at the man that I think took off its glasses and black mask.

She then looked at me with her wide eyes and then looked back at the man.

The man was about to look at his back but then I proceeded to where I park my car in front the shop and drove my way to the funeral home.