THE FLOWER GIRL - PART 6 (EPILOGUE)

----- Photos Used ---------------------------------------------

Upper Photo Link: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1015632153463999949

Bottom Photo Link: https://es.pinterest.com/pin/1015632153464000076   

Photo from PxHere: https://es.pinterest.com/

IA PIC made by HOTPOT: https://hotpot.ai/art-generator

-------------------------------------------------------------------

------ Epilogue – For You------

-- Written by “Irene Naridza” and “Gale Kepler”

Mercedes had already returned home with the girls. She drove the car straight into the garage; leaving it outside even for a moment wasn’t a good idea. Once inside the house, she collapsed on the couch, exhausted from all the dancing.

She took off her heels and put on some very comfortable cotton slippers. She always kept a pair in a shoe cabinet by the entrance. This relieved her feet, which were already starting to ache a little. She went to the kitchen and poured herself some water.

Then she returned to the living room, where her daughter and niece were still resting. It was heartwarming to see them in their cute little dresses. “Time to get changed, girls, you don’t want to ruin your dresses.” the woman said.

“Can we take one last round of photos?” Adelaida asked, wanting to make the most of her time in the dress. Domenica smiled at the idea.

“Alright, I’ll grab the camera.” Mercedes replied. “We took a few during the wedding, but you’re right. Let’s use up the whole roll.” She assured them as she rummaged through her purse. Then she took a few pictures, one after another, suggesting a couple of poses for them to replicate.

Mother and daughter felt their hearts melt with the tenderness that Adelaida reflected in the photos.

Mercedes gestured to her daughter. “Go with your cousin. I’ll take a few pictures of you two together.” Domenica smiled and, with a jump, joined Adelaida. Domenica kept striking pose after pose, clearly enjoying herself.

Adelaida now understood why many women seemed to like this. Showing off their outfits was vain, but satisfying. “You don’t always get to look this cute.” she thought. Now that Pedro had to be Adelaida, she figured she should also seize the moment.

“Aww, you both look so adorable.” Mercedes said, touched, when she saw that Domenica had hugged Adelaida. “Alright, I’m joining in!” Mercedes positioned herself between the two girls and took a few more pictures until a familiar sound indicated the roll was finished. “It lasted longer than I expected. But these will be more than enough.”

The woman went to her room, removed the roll from the camera, and placed it in its cardboard case. She wrote down a few details with a pen. “Sunday, April 20, 2003.” she noted, before putting the roll in her drawer and locking it.

She then helped Domenica and Adelaida out of their dresses and into something more comfortable for the rest of the day. It was only 3:40 PM.

Adelaida waited in the guest room for her aunt to bring her something to wear. In the end, she brought over some of Domenica’s clothes. A white shirt and light blue pants. “Sorry, Pedro, but your clothes aren’t dry yet. Though, after wearing a dress, I don’t think wearing this will be a problem for you.” she said, placing the clothes on the bed next to him.

“It’s fine…” Pedro replied. “But… could you keep calling me Adelaida while I’m here?” The boy’s request surprised the woman, but she agreed. “If that’s what you prefer, it’s okay” she said, smiling. “It’s a nice name, after all.”

Mercedes watched as Pedro smiled shyly before leaving the room. She went downstairs.

As she walked through the hallway, she lit a candle at the altar she had set up for her late husband, who had passed away in a car accident a few years ago. She smiled at the picture of her husband when he was young, the same age as when they had met.

“I wish you could’ve seen this.” she murmured. Mario had been a loving husband and a very open-minded person. He had always defended the right of people to love as their hearts desired. If he were still alive, he would have loved to attend Lurdes and Nadia’s wedding.

While same-sex marriage wasn’t legalized yet, there were no barriers to having union ceremonies like theirs, which was already a victory. Seeing the consummation of pure love was something he always celebrated, regardless of the genders involved.

The next thing she did was sit on the couch next to her daughter, who had put on a movie to enjoy the rest of the Sunday. She liked the idea, as the wedding had been exhausting.

Soon, Pedro came downstairs, dressed in Domenica’s usual clothes, and joined them. “Hey, is that my Sunday outfit?” his cousin asked. “Wow, it fits you as well as the dress, even since you’re shorter than me.” she complimented with a smile. “Thanks.” Pedro replied.

The next hour was filled with laughter and hot popcorn as they enjoyed the movie, a family comedy that had premiered a year ago but still brought as many smiles as the first time they watched it.

When it was over, Mercedes decided to bring up an important topic with the girls. “Adelaida, if your parents ask you about the wedding, try not to mention that it was two women getting married, much less what your outfit was.” the woman suggested, creating an awkward silence in the room.

“What? Why?” Pedro and Domenica asked in unison. “I know it’s hard to hide these things. No one should have to. But unfortunately, our society doesn’t seem ready for this yet.” Mercedes explained with a sad look.

“But if we try to explain, maybe they’ll understand.” Pedro said hopefully. “I know, but some adults are very rigid. They won’t understand something overnight that they’ve always seen one way.” the woman tried to find the right words for them to grasp.

“Adelaida, your parents aren’t very open-minded. If they find out about this, they’ll only get upset. It’s not just about trying to convince them. It’s about protecting you from what they might do if they think it’s the ‘right thing’ to show you the ‘correct path’” Mercedes was genuinely concerned for her nephew’s future.

“Okay, Aunt Mercedes. I’ll be cautious.” Pedro replied after thinking it over. He realized it was the best course of action, knowing his parents. They weren’t bad people, but he didn’t want to do anything that would test their limits.

“I hope that, somehow, in the future, all of this will be considered normal, as we already do.” the woman said. “That won’t happen if we stay silent, waiting for society to change on its own.” Domenica’s words hit her mother hard. They were true.

Mercedes had faced a lot of harassment from some neighbors, and even Domenica had suffered at school for standing up for homosexual people. They couldn’t remain indifferent, but it was exhausting.

“If it’s your decision to try to show the world it’s wrong, I won’t stop you, but I’ll warn you. It’s tough, but it’s also something you won’t regret.” Mercedes assured her.

Adelaida returned to her thoughts, remembering that same morning. Lurdes and Nadia’s smiles had been beautiful, just like any usual couple. She considered it a happiness that should not be denied to anyone, and anyone who thought otherwise was a villain.

“Life is already full of risks. This is one worth taking.” Adelaida said, putting a smile on her aunt and cousin’s faces.

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2023

Diego and Jose were two men who worked at a small restaurant in Imbabura Province, Ecuador. It was their own business, which had taken them several years to establish. Now, it was their pride.

With their business thriving, another dream could now be part of their plans: the perfect wedding. Same-sex marriage had been legalized in the country several years ago, although society hadn’t progressed at the same pace.

They weren’t afraid to announce it to their families and even to a few regular customers who frequented their restaurant and with whom they had already formed a small friendship.

One night, while organizing the day’s accounts, Diego came into the office with some news. “Another check arrived.” he said excitedly. Without even looking at the check, Jose knew where it came from. “Is it from the Lurdes Foundation?”

The foundation helped homosexual people who were struggling in their lives. Diego and Jose had received assistance from the foundation when they were starting their restaurant business. Now they had a tip jar dedicated to the same cause, their way of giving back.

“No, but it’s from the same donor.” Diego said. “It came with a letter.” He approached his fiancé as he opened the piece of paper, which contained a short message.

“Dear Diego and Jose.” Jose began to read aloud. “I’ve heard that you’ve made your engagement official. I’m touched to see how your story hasn’t reached a happy ending, but rather a new beginning. A new chapter in your lives where you will be there for each other, in a bond beyond any common understanding. Love is something that can only be described by those who have experienced it, and you are fortunate to feel it in your hearts every day as you exchange glances and join forces toward the same goal. A life in which you are both happy, being one family.”

A single tear ran down Diego’s cheek, and Jose wiped it away before continuing to read.

“As for me, I wanted to ensure that this would be a special moment for both of you, which is why I’ve decided to gift you $3,000 for your wedding expenses. I hope you make the most of it, and I’m sure you will. I’ve been to your restaurant several times. You are excellent at managing your business. Marriage is something more complex, but I’m confident you will succeed. Sincerely, Adelaida.”

Jose took Diego’s hand as they both looked at the check. Adelaida was one of the main donors and even one of the founders of the Lurdes Foundation. Their lives were a testament to her efforts in helping people like them live happily.

Though they had never met her, there were no words to describe how grateful they were. But they knew there were actions they could take. That action was to have a wedding surrounded by all their loved ones and to live true to themselves.

 

This Story has come to Its End.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------- If you find any misspellings or a dead link, please let me know ------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link English Caption in Deviant Art: https://www.deviantart.com/nair-tg-stories/art/1105264380

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link Spanish Story in Wattpad: No Longer Available

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link English Story in Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/1480764027-the-flower-girl-part-6-for-you-epilogue

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link English Caption in Blogger: https://irenenaridzastorycaptions.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-flower-girl-part-6-epilogue.html

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link Spanish Caption in Blogger: https://irenenaridzastorycaptions.blogspot.com/2024/10/la-nina-de-las-flores-parte-6-epilogo.html

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

------------------------------ THANK YOU SO MUCH for WATCHING ------------------------------