by Jenifer Rose

Created on: September 13, 2010

Cast of Characters: Melanie- Middle age woman.

Various other people dressed for a funeral, different ages, dressed in dark colors.  One little girl about six years old, dressed in light blue.

Setting- Cemetary.  To one side a funeral is in progress.  Solomn music can be heard drifting through the air.

(Scene opens with Melanie walking down a tree lined path to a single grave.  Kneeling beside the head stone, she lays a single red rose on top of it.  Sitting quietly for a few moments, she glances towards the funeral.  Wiping a tear from her eye, she looks towards the cloudy sky before laying her hand on the headstone.)

Melanie- (Taking a deep breath.) I debated a long time about coming here.  I wasn't sure if I could do this or not, or even if it was the right thing to do.  But, I needed closure.  I needed to have my say, and now, this is the only way I have.  (Pausing, she looks up to the sky once again before continuing.)  Today is a perfect match for how I have felt since you left me,  My whole world lost every bit of color, all hope.  I didn't want to face the next moment, much less the next day.  Now there is no chance for anything.

     Maybe saying these things now isn't fair, but I've learned so well that life isn't fair.  I have wished it was me laying here a million times instead of you.

     You promised me you would never leave me.  That you would always love me.  Even the day before you broke my heart you said those things.  Then you left.  No explanation, no nothing.  You just left, and destroyed everything in me.

(Pausing, taking a deep breath.) No I will never get the chance to understand.  Never get the chance to as you what I need to know.  Why did you lie to me?  Why did you leave?  Why wasn't I good enough?

     I loved you completely, unconditionally.  I would have been willing to work through anything.  All I wanted was you.  I"m sorry I didn't deserve you.

(Crying quietly for a few moment, Melanie stares at the headstone.)  When I got word that you had been killed, the rest of me died.  I tried not to care, tried not to cry, but it was useless.  It kills me knowing there is no chance for us, knowing that my only chance for happiness lies here.

     I came here today to say what I needed, to ask what I needed to know and to say my final good-byes.  Not only to you and us, but to everything.  I can't face this world alone, with no hope, no dreams.  I have nothing anymore.

(Looking up into the overcast sky again, she closes her eyes.  The funeral attendants are going their separate ways.  The little girl in blue walks over to Melanie.  Touching her lightly on the shoulder, she hands Melanie a single white rose.)

Melanie- (Looking at the little girl with surprise, takes the rose from her and smiles slightly.)  Thank you.

(Melanie raises the rose to her nose as the little girl turns and walks away without saying a word.)

(Scene closes as a single ray of sunlight breaks through the cloud ridden sky, falling on the rose,  Melanie's teardrops glisten on the petals as a look of peace and understanding comes to her face.)

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