Aunty Rosalia was the one who held the family together, so much so that she hardly had time for herself.
So, while the family slept, she stayed up all night, making repairs, shopping for food, and doing other tasks to ensure the house was always fully stocked. In the mornings, she made sure that everyone left for work and school on time. During the day, she had her eight hours of sleep. By the time she woke up, everyone was coming back from school and work. In her old age, her family couldn't bring themselves to commit Aunty Rosalia to a senior home, so they cared for her in the very house where she raised them. One afternoon, as everyone sat around Aunty Rosalia out on the veranda, having tea and snacks, the old woman put her cup aside and said, "This is a strange request, but since it was I who took care of all of you, I want to tell you that my body should be committed to my rose garden. It's the one my mother used to plant her roses, and it's the same one I tend to now. It's what I want," she said. "Please, all of you, I'm asking that you honor my request."Aunty Rosalia lived several more healthy years, but when her time came, her family honored her request and committed her earthly remains to the rose garden. In no way was it an easy request to fulfill, as it required several back-room deals and donations of substantial sums of money; however, in the end, it was worth it.
A year to the day of her burial, the flowers in the garden bloomed big and bright. It was such a sight to behold as it took everyone's breath away. Fully colored, red, pink, yellow, and green roses festooned not only the garden but the entire perimeter of the house. It was a symbolic gesture of gratitude from beyond. The following morning, everyone found various kinds of roses with neatly pruned stems at the foot of their beds. The fragrance of it lingered in the house for most of the day. Collectively, the family was jovial and in a perfect mood. Some conversations were not small talk, but meaningful. Most of the couples had deep discussions that they hadn't had in years, and genuine expressions of love permeated the home. In the nine months following, the same couples were giving birth to their newborn children, and the house seemed to take on a new life.
"It's Aunty Rosalia," the kids said with confidence. "She's still looking out for us."
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