My Advent calendar just told me the most beautiful love story in the world. This morning, my faith in love has been restored. The story is …
My hikes through the Bergisch have become shorter, but more enjoyable. I love the high-altitude paths with their benches at the edge of the forest, from which you can see far over hills and valleys. One, perhaps the most beautiful, is in a lonely spot. I am always drawn to it.
Last summer I was there on a Friday afternoon. To my surprise, the bench that was usually free was occupied by an elderly man. We greeted each other in a friendly manner. I asked if I could sit next to him. He smiled: “I’m afraid that’s impossible. My late wife is sitting next to me. We cannot see her, but she is there and I feel her. Before she died, she used to say: ‘ When I am gone, go to our bench at the usual time. I will be there. But don’t come when it rains! I don’t want you to get wet.’ And so it has happened. I call it our soul-bench.”
I said goodbye and went on my way. In the weeks that followed, I couldn’t resist making my way to the bench on Friday afternoons. And always the old gentleman sat there, deep in thought and relaxed. He always smiled at me and put his finger on his mouth, winking at the empty seat next to him. I greeted him silently, smiled with understanding and went on my way.
Once, already in late summer, he sat there again. He looked more frail. Next to him was a middle-aged man. “My son,” he said. “I can’t make it this far on my own.” The son greeted kindly. He sat on the far left, directly next to him his father, leaving the right seat empty.
On the last golden day of October, I was taken up the path to the bench on Friday afternoon. Even from a distance I saw that someone was sitting there. It was the old man’s son. He was sitting on the far left again. “Come on, please. My father told me about you. He died here,” he addressed me. “I didn’t have time to go with him that day. So he went alone. I was told he looked peaceful, sitting there with his eyes closed, a smile on his lips.” “And you leave both seats for your parents?” He nodded. “Then I don’t want to disturb you,” I said and went on. – by Peter Jobke.
The End
Have a very blessed Advent season 😊
More real life love stories?
The Light of Immortality
https://thejourney-writing.com/2022/03/the-light-of-immortality.html
The Neighbour
https://thejourney-writing.com/2020/11/the-neighbour.html
The First Play Scrapbook
https://thejourney-writing.com/2020/03/the-first-play-scrapbook-1.html
Weinsberg/ Weibertreu
https://thejourney-writing.com/2013/08/weinsberg-weibertreu.html
Love poem (only in German) by Matthias Claudius (1740 – 1815)
“To Wife Rebecca; at the silver wedding anniversary, 15.3.1797”
https://thejourney-writing.com/2022/04/celebrating-the-25th-spring.html