The rain poured harder on the roof than the day before. There hadn't been sun for at least a week. The ceiling upstairs had started to leak. The changing of buckets became to much for the old woman to worry about, so she just let it leak down. Slumping in her chair she watched tv, only reruns played. She paid no attention though, it was simply an echo in her ears. Something to drown out the rain. Her eyes traced lines on the floor all the way to the window. Her curtains were closed, she had no want or urge to see the outside world. It was always the same. People coming and going, faces became blurs, words were simple whispers that barely graced anyone with kindness.
The old woman stands, her knees shaking. Making her way to the kitchen she puts a kettle on the stove for tea. The sound of the upstairs leak fills her ears. She grabs an empty bucket and slowly makes her way to the attic door. Letting out a sigh of exhaustion she opens the door. The smells rush at her. Rain water, and musky old cologne. She looks away from the stairs for a moment. A tear rolls down her face. Sighing again she faces back to the stairs and makes her way slowly up them.
At the center of the room sits the bucket. Close to over flowing with water. Quickly and swiftly she moves the bucket, replacing it with the empty one. She walks to a tiny window and opens it slightly, dumping the water outside. Closing her eyes as she places the bucket in front of the window. Trying to erase all the thoughts from her head. The scent of the musky old cologne dances around her. It kisses her finger tips and whispers in her ear.
  "Open your eyes my love. Please." The old lady holds her breath. That familiar voice echoing in her ears, but she knows it can't be real. Slowly she turns, no one stands in the room with her. She's alone.
Her heart sinks as her eyes trace the room. Every picture of them together, and him in his uniform sit on the same shelves they were placed years ago. Newspaper clippings framed stand with the pictures. A small chest stands strong between two shelves. She kneels in front of it, her hand running across its smooth top. Her breath catches in her throat.
Opening it slowly she lets even more smells into the air around her. The soft smell roses mixed with the heavier scent of whiskey. She looks at his uniform folded on the top and runs her hands over the familiar fabric. Taking it out she places it on the floor next to her. The smell of aging paper emerges from the box next. Without looking she pulls out the stack of letters she wrote him during the war. She hadn't known he'd kept them. Looking through them her eyes filled with tears but did not overflow. She places the letters neatly next to the uniform. Reaching for the tiny box she knew was at the bottom, her hand grazed something soft. As she pulled it out she knew what it was. The bouquet she had carried the day they married. Every petal dried and placed into a jar wrapped in the silk from her veil. Tears fell from her eyes until she could hardly see. She laid her arm and head on the rim of the chest and cried until she couldn't cry anymore.
The familiar scent and presence surrounds her once more. Embracing her tightly, ending her tears. Her breath still hard and heavy. She doesn't dare open her eyes for fear of losing the presence once more.
"I love you my sweet." The voice whispers gently in her ear. The feeling of lips touches her cheek, feeling like that of a butterfly's wings. She lets of a tiny laugh and sigh of slight happiness.
"I love and miss you too.." She breathes out. With her eyes still closed, she imagines him standing behind her hugging her. At first she imagines him young, strong, and handsome. But as the moments pass she watches him age until his last breath, no longer young, or as strong, but she still sees him as the most handsome man. Tears build behind her closed eyes. She reaches up to wipe her eyes and the familiar presence disappears again.
She places the jar of petals back in the chest. Grabbing the letters she fits them neatly back in next to the jar. With each thing she puts back, she regains her breathing. She places the uniform on her lap before returning it the chest to wipe off dust that had gathered. She lifts it to her face and kisses it. Staining the left pocket with tears and pale pink. She places it back and closes the top slowly.