I watched carefully from a tree as they rocked her to sleep. “Rose…..” I murmured. It turned out to be a fitting name as I watched her grow from a little baby, to a young toddler. Rose’s hair because wavy and red like Lila’s and she had James’ sparkling emerald eyes.
I watched her take her first steps, and eat her first food. I laughed as she got it all over her face and shirt. Then Rose grinned, so proud of herself as the empty bowl fell to the floor. Lila sighed with a smile and picked it up. Then she tried to clean her up. James laughed from the table. “Um, she’s got it in her hair, Lila.” Lila looked and sighed heavily. She picked Rose up from her highchair and took her to the bathroom.
I could hear Rose giggling and splashing as I silently walked around the house, checking for anything that needed fixing. James stayed in the kitchen, reading the paper before work. I ducked under the window. Nothing to fix yet.
I returned to the forest as James got up to leave for work. He kissed Lila and Rose goodbye, then headed out the door. He stopped in the driveway, and looked back at the house, frowning. Then he shook his head and got in his car, muttering to himself: “How in the world does Lila keep things so neat and tidy out here?” He shook his head again as he drove up the road.
Soon, Rose grew from a young toddler to a little lady. At five years old, Rose was running around the house, giggling as she helped her mother with the laundry or in the garden. But James, Lila and I were still worried. Rose still hadn't said her first word… They took her to doctors, but they could find anything wrong. Her vocal cords were fine. And so were her lungs. The doctors said it would happen in time. And so, I waited and worried with them.
Today James was at work, and Lila had Rose outside, showing her how to repot a plant. And trying to get her to say something. I leaned against a tree, watching them from a shadowy part of the woods. Rose was smiling and playing in the dirt. Lila was sighing and shaking her head. Suddenly the phone rang and Lila ran to get it. “Stay right there, Rose!” she called.
I smiled and closed my eyes for a minute. The sun was very bright today in the summer. It was hot too, but that felt good on my cold skin. I opened my eyes again and looked back to the garden. Rose was gone… I looked around. Where was she? And where was Lila? She should be watching her…. A twig broke beside me.
I whipped around to look, moving too fast for a normal human. Rose stared at me, her eyes wide. Opps…. She smiled then, and reached out her hand. I backed away slowly, bumping into the tree. She giggled and touched my shirt. Rose stared at me with her bright gaze. “Rose… please go back home. Before your mother worries.” Rose continued to stare, like she was asking him something. “My.. name? It’s …… Alexander.” For a moment, I had to remember what my name was; I hadn't said it in over 36 years….
Rose continued to smile. She touched my hand. Her eyes widened at the cold, but she still wrapped her fingers around my wrist. “Rose…” I stepped forward and gently turned her back to the house. “Go home, Rose.” I could hear Lila walking down the hallway, heading back outside. “Rose… Where are you? Rose?!”
The little girl whipped back around and hugged me tight. I stiffened in shock, then lightly hugged her back.She smiled. I turned her around again, and gave her a small push. "Go, Rose. Your mother's worried." She nodded and ran back to the yard. Lila rushed out the back door and pulled her close."Rose! Where have you been?! I told you to stay here! Don't scare me like that." She held her and sobbed for about five minutes. Rose in turn hugged her mother the whole time, not wiggling an inch. I watched in amazement. That little girl had seen me..... had touched me and was not afraid.....
Lila picked Rose up in her arms and carried her to the house. Rose wriggled in her mother's grip, looking over Lila's shoulder. "What's wrong, Rose?" Rose smiled in my direction.. "Ale...xander..." She giggled. Lila froze. My breath caught in my throat.
Lila turned Rose to face her, tears shining in her eyes. "Who's Alexander? Is he a friend of yours?" Rose giggled and smiled again. She didn't answer. Lila picked her daughter up and hugged her, then rushed back into the house. I could hear her as she set Rose down with her toys and grabbed the phone. She must have been calling John, but I didn't hear their what they said. I sneak to a window and peeked inside, watching Rose as she played. She didn't like the noise toys, she'd play with one of her dolls and brush it's hair. I continued to watch her. Her hair catching the light as she moved, shining a coppery red. I couldn't see her eyes, but I guessed that they were focused on the doll. I shook my head and chuckled quietly.
Rose stopped a minute and looked up. With a start, I duck out of sight as she turned to the window. Did she HEAR me? I was sure I was quiet enough... After several minutes, I chanced a look. Rose had turned back to the doll, but she just stared at it. I noticed she was whispering my name again and again. Did she like the sound of it? Wasn't it too hard for her to say? All this question rattled in my head as I ran back to the forest, but one thing was clear....Her first word...... my name was Rose's first word....
