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A happy woman holding a bouquet of red roses | Source: Shutterstock
A happy woman holding a bouquet of red roses | Source: Shutterstock

My Girlfriend Received a Rose Bouquet Delivery, but It Was Not from Me – The Truth behind It Turned My Life Upside Down

Junie Sihlangu
May 20, 2024
10:35 A.M.

My world flipped upside down when my longtime girlfriend received a present that had me believing she was cheating. Looking back now, I jumped to the conclusion of infidelity because of my past trauma. In the end, my girlfriend's gift set me on a journey of healing.

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A man reacting in show to something on his phone | Source: Freepik

A man reacting in show to something on his phone | Source: Freepik

What I thought was a normal day turned into something quite unexpected. At one point, I thought my relationship with my girlfriend was over. Let me introduce myself, my name is Garry, 30, and I have been dating my partner for four wonderful years.

I truly believed our relationship was over when on a typical Thursday afternoon at the office my phone buzzed with a text from my girlfriend, Emily. I glanced at the phone, expecting a quick chat about dinner plans, but the text was filled with excitement.

A man looking disturbed by something on his phone | Source: Freepik

A man looking disturbed by something on his phone | Source: Freepik

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Confused, I opened the message and was left in shock when I read it! "Thank you for the flowers, sweetheart! They're so beautiful and thoughtful," she wrote. Attached was the picture – her and a huge bouquet of red roses.

I froze. "Flowers? I hadn't sent any flowers," I thought to myself as my mind started racing, but I managed to keep it calm. "I'm glad you loved them," I wrote back, trying to mask my confusion. "I'll see you at home tonight."

A bouquet of red roses | Source: Pixabay

A bouquet of red roses | Source: Pixabay

Needless to say, the rest of my workday was a mess! I was FLOODED with suspicion. "Who had sent Emily those flowers?" I wondered to myself. I couldn’t shake the gnawing thought that she might be seeing someone else.

But I decided not to confront her over the phone. I needed to see those flowers and find out more. The workday dragged on painfully slow. My imagination ran wild with scenarios, each more distressing than the last! By the time I finally left the office and got home, I was a bundle of nerves!

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An unhappy-looking man looking at his phone: Freepik

An unhappy-looking man looking at his phone: Freepik

When I walked through the door of our apartment, the first thing I saw was the bouquet of red roses on the dining table. They were stunning, arranged perfectly in a crystal vase. Emily greeted me with a kiss and a smile, but I was too distracted to fully respond.

I walked over to the flowers, pretending to admire them. "They really are beautiful," I said, looking closely at the bouquet, my heart pounding. Then, I saw the note sticking out tucked between the flowers. My hands were shaking as I reached for it, expecting the truth about Emily's cheating to come out.

A couple kissing | Source: Pexels

A couple kissing | Source: Pexels

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I pulled it out and read the words that made my blood run cold and a chill run down my spine. The note read: "Your mother died. These were her favorite flowers. If you can, please come to the funeral."

I felt the room spin, and I gripped the table to steady myself. Emily noticed my reaction and her face filled with concern. "Are you okay?" I shook my head, barely able to process the information. "These flowers...they’re from my mother's husband. She's...she's dead."

A distressed man | Source: Pexels

A distressed man | Source: Pexels

Emily looked shocked. "I didn't know you were in touch with her," she asked softly, coming over to embrace me. "I wasn't," I said, my voice hollow. "I haven't spoken to her in years. She left my father and me for another man when I was a kid."

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Continuing my tale, I added, "She didn't want children, so she abandoned me." I could see how torn up Emily was to hear how I'd suffered growing up. I hadn't been willing to share my whole background with her until now. Luckily, she was as supportive as ever.

A woman comforting an upset man | Source: Pexels

A woman comforting an upset man | Source: Pexels

The next few days were a blur of emotions. I couldn't decide if I should go to the funeral. Part of me wanted to ignore the message, to pretend it had never arrived. But another part of me felt a pull, a need to find closure.

Emily was there for me through it all, though clearly confused by the sudden upheaval in my life. "Whatever you decide, I'll be here for you," she vowed. The day before the funeral, I received a phone call that changed everything. It was my father.

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A man talking on a phone | Source: Pexels

A man talking on a phone | Source: Pexels

He surprised me by saying, "I'm going to the funeral," his voice strained but resolute. I was stunned. "Dad, after everything she did to you, to us?" He sighed. "I've had years to think about it, and I've realized that holding on to all that anger has only hurt me more," adding:

"I need to let it go, for my own sake. And I think you need to do the same."

A man talking on the phone | Source: Pexels

A man talking on the phone | Source: Pexels

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We drove to the funeral together, the car ride filled with an uneasy silence. When we arrived, I saw faces I didn't recognize, people who had become part of my mother’s new life. I felt like an outsider, but having my father there made it bearable.

The service was somber. As I looked at the casket, I realized how much time had been wasted in anger and resentment. My mother had made her choices, and they had hurt me deeply, but she was still my parent.

An emotional man at a funeral | Source: Pexels

An emotional man at a funeral | Source: Pexels

After the service, I approached my mother's new husband. He looked tired and grief-stricken. "I'm sorry for your loss," I said as I placed a hand on his shoulder, and I meant it. He nodded gratefully, tears in his eyes.

Then he told me something I didn't know I needed to hear. "She spoke of you often, you know. She regretted leaving you." Between trying to hold back tears, he shared, "She always hoped you might forgive her someday."

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An older man and younger one conversation | Source: Freepik

An older man and younger one conversation | Source: Freepik

I thanked him for sharing that information with me before walking away. The ride home was quiet but less tense. My father and I had both faced our past and while it didn’t erase the pain, it felt like a step towards healing.

My sweet Emily was waiting for us when we returned. Her presence was a comforting reminder of the love and stability I had now. "I'm proud of you," she said, hugging me tightly. As I held her, I made a deep realization.

A couple hugging and kissing | Source: Pexels

A couple hugging and kissing | Source: Pexels

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It dawned on me that while the flowers had brought back painful memories, they had also given me a chance to confront and let go of the past. My life had turned upside down, but in a way that allowed me to start anew. This time with a heart a little lighter and a future a little brighter.

Weeks later, Emily and I were having dinner when she looked at me thoughtfully. "What are you thinking about?" she asked. "I've been thinking about my mother," I admitted. "I never expected to feel this way, but her death has made me realize how important it is to let go of the past."

A couple having a deep conversation while touching hands | Source: Pexels

A couple having a deep conversation while touching hands | Source: Pexels

Emily reached across the table and took my hand. "I'm here for you, whatever you need." I squeezed her hand, grateful for her support. "I know. Thank you for being here through all this." That night, as we sat together, I thought about the journey ahead.

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There would be more difficult moments and more painful memories to confront, but I wasn't alone. I had Emily, my father, and a renewed sense of hope. My life had changed, but had also been set on a new, promising path.

A young couple being embraced by an older man | Source: Midjourney

A young couple being embraced by an older man | Source: Midjourney

A few months later, I received another unexpected message. This time, it was from one of my mother's old friends. She wanted to meet and share some memories of my mother. I hesitated, but Emily encouraged me to go.

When I met with her, she handed me a box filled with letters and photos. "Your mother kept these all these years," she said. "She always hoped you would read them someday." As I read through the letters, I felt a mix of emotions.

A man reading a handwritten letter | Source: Pexels

A man reading a handwritten letter | Source: Pexels

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There were apologies, explanations, and expressions of love. It was overwhelming, but it also brought a sense of closure. Returning home that evening, I shared the letters with Emily. "It's strange," I said, "but I feel like I understand her a little better now."

Emily hugged me. "That's important. Healing takes time, but you're doing it." Looking back, I realized that the bouquet of roses had been the catalyst for a journey I never expected to take.

A man lovingly kissing his woman's forehead | Source: Pixabay

A man lovingly kissing his woman's forehead | Source: Pixabay

It had brought back painful memories but had also opened the door to healing and forgiveness. Being brought back into my mother's life even though it was in her death had also set me on a new, hopeful path. I was even finally ready to propose to Emily!

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A man proposing marriage to his woman | Source: Freepik

A man proposing marriage to his woman | Source: Freepik

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided "as is," and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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