After A Strange Visit, A Grieving Parent Sets Up A Camera At Their Son’s Grave.
Mary and Peter were in mourning for their late son, who had been killed in a horrible accident. Every day, they went to his tomb. Nevertheless, after about a month, they found that someone had always beaten them to it. Every day, a new rose was placed on his tomb. But who grew this rose? Peter had a solution: he put a camera to determine who it was. Yet when he saw this individual, he was taken aback.
Getting The footage
Peter and Mary were on their way home after retrieving the footage from the camera. Their bodies were filled with a mix of exhilaration and trepidation. But nothing could have prepared them for what was about to happen…
Getting The footage
What they saw was capable of shocking just about anyone… What was on that footage??
The Right Decision?
They waited till the next day to watch the video. Peter and Mary were filled with adrenaline and doubt, and they needed to be certain they were making the correct decision.
The Right Decision?
They didn’t want to risk anything, they didn’t want any mistakes or mishaps to occur.
Press Play
As the screen twitched and a pop-up appeared, Peter and Mary watched. All they had to do now was push the play button to find out who had been placing red flowers on their son’s tomb.
Press Play
But who was it that kept leaving red roses on their son’s grave? Will they face this individual?
Losing Their Son
Parents Mary and Peter had never healed fully from the death of their son, Michael. He was only 18 years old when he died in an automobile accident that devastated both of them.
Losing Their Son
Since then, it had been just the two of them, which was difficult to deal with. You never expect to outlive your children as a parent.
Way Too Soon
Once their son died, they didn’t have much left. Their entire savings went for his funeral. Nonetheless, they never complained about it. Their son deserved a good resting site, and they promised to look after him long after he died.
Way Too Soon
Michael went far too soon, but they had no idea what his death would bring.
Funeral
The funeral was obviously very tough, but they felt lucky that they were surrounded by so many caring friends and family members. A lot of people showed up and they were grateful.
The Funeral
In such a short time, Michael had obviously had such an impact on people’s lives.
Visiting Him Every Day
They paid daily visits to his grave, bringing flowers and trinkets to remember him by. This became a ritual for them, as well as a method to keep him close.
Visiting Him Every Day
It was just the two of them, and they relished the one-on-one time spent telling their son about their day. But then they discovered something odd.
Tombstone’s Top With Something
Mary and Peter were on their way to the graveyard on a Monday. But as they got closer to their son’s grave, they discovered something on top of it. “This was not here yesterday,” Mary pointed out.
Tombstone’s Top With Something
Peter concurred. Why would anybody put something on the headstone of someone else? Mary and Peter were both perplexed.
A Red Rose
A solitary red rose lay on the headstone, and no one knew who had placed it there. They looked around, but there was no one in sight. It was a confusing situation… who else would leave roses here?
A Red Rose
They searched the graves surrounding their son’s to see if there were any others with red roses, but Michael was the only one. They felt it was strange.
It Kept Returning
They initially dismissed it as a random act of generosity by a stranger. But every time the rose withered, a new one bloomed.
It Kept Returning
They got increasingly interested about who was placing these roses on Michael’s grave, but there was no way to find out. So they reasoned.
Always The Same
They would often check back and notice the rose was there. It was always the same red one, never white, never anything else. They wondered why someone would be so mysterious and consistent.
Always The Same
Though it has to be said, there could be worse things happening than a rose appearing daily!
The Ideal Concept
They learned to enjoy the rose after a few months of this. They were still determined to solve the riddle, but how? Then Peter came home one day with an idea. “What if we hang camera’s on the premises? ”
The Ideal Concept
Pointed to Michael’s grave! he said to his wife. Mary, on the other hand, was unimpressed.
Going Against His Wife
“I’m sure that violates the privacy policy, Peter,” she said. Yet Peter was not about to give up so easy. He was determined to discover who was placing these roses on his son’s tomb.
Going Against His Wife
So he buys a new security camera one night and drives to the graveyard without telling his wife.
Setting Up The Camera
It was completely black outside, and his only source of illumination was his tiny pocket flashlight. He looked for the finest camera hiding position and checked to see if it had a clear picture of his son’s burial, which it did.
Setting Up The Camera
So he installed the camera and proudly gazed at it. Now all he had to do was wait.
Pretending To Sleep
He returned home and crawled into bed with Mary, who pretended to sleep. She was aware of what her husband had done that night, but she did not intervene. She was just as curious as he was to find out who this person was.
Pretending To Sleep
Yet she wouldn’t admit it to her spouse.
Having Her Own Secret
During the next two weeks, they went to Michael’s cemetery every day. Peter continued to act suspiciously around the tomb, slyly staring at the camera. Of course, Mary spotted it, but she said nothing to Peter about it.
Having Her Own Secret
She enjoyed keeping her own secret. But then Peter made a mistake.
An Unexpected Phone Call
On a Tuesday morning, Peter and Mary were getting ready to go for the cemetery when they received a phone call. That was the cemetery’s manager. The supervisor had to confiscate the camera after someone complained about it.
An Unexpected Phone Call
She saw the footage was centered on Michael’s grave and connected it to Peter and Mary.
Not Allowed
Because filming without everyone’s permission was against the cemetery’s privacy regulation, she had to turn in the camera to the police. She made an exception for Peter and Mary because she knew them personally.
Not Allowed
She retained a copy of the footage just for them. Yet she didn’t tell them what she saw in the video.
Getting The Footage
She promised Mary and Peter they could pick up the tape today at the end of the day. This was fantastic news for them because they couldn’t wait to find out who the mystery rose giver was for their son.
Getting The Footage
So they spent the day trying to keep themselves occupied before heading to the cemetery.
A Strange Remark
They could finally come by the cemetery to pick up the tape after a few hours. The cemetery supervisor, holding the USB stick, awaited them at Michael’s tomb.
A Strange Remark
When she handed over the USB stick, though, she murmured something Mary and Peter didn’t understand. At least not yet.
“You Have To See This”
They briefly discussed their lives and how their parents were doing. But, as the cemetery supervisor was about to leave, she passed over the USB stick and said, “I thought you had to see this.”
“You Have To See This”
Her reply perplexed Peter and Mary, but all will become plain to them in a few days.
Sleeping On It
They brought the USB stick home but were apprehensive to look at it. What did the cemetery lady mean when she said that to them? What if watching the clip entirely altered their memories of their son?
Sleeping On It
They decided to go to bed and see how they felt in the morning.
Will It Be Worth It?
The following morning, the USB stick was still on their kitchen table. They glanced at it while eating their breakfast. “How are we going to proceed, Peter?” Mary inquired of her husband. “Does it really make sense?”
Will It Be Worth It?
But Peter remained mute, his gaze fixed on the stick. Will this USB stick forever alter their lives?
“I Have To Know”
Peter finally stood up and grabbed the stick. “I… I need to know, Mary. Otherwise, I won’t be able to move on.” He told his wife. And she concurred.
“I Have To Know”
“Let’s watch the footage as a team,” she suggested after noticing Peter’s demeanor shift. He got more at ease. Yet, it would not last long.
It’s Time
Mary sprang up and looked for her laptop. She placed it on the kitchen table and switched it on. “We got this,” Peter and Mary said as they exchanged one last look.
It’s Time
Nothing, however, could have prepared them for what they were about to witness.
Press Play
With one hand, Peter grasped the USB stick, and in the other, Mary’s hand. He reached for the laptop carefully and inserted the USB stick. They stood there watching as the screen jerked and a pop-up appeared.
Press Play
All they had to do now was push the play button to find out who had been placing red flowers on their son’s tomb.
It Is Now Time For Answers
When it came time to watch the tape, Peter couldn’t keep his palm from trembling. He had no idea what was going to happen. They both took a deep breath.
It Is Now Time For Answers
He slid his computer mouse slowly over to the play button, making sure Mary was ready for whatever they were about to watch. The video began to play.
Playback Issue
Excited to finally see who had been leaving the roses, Peter sat down to watch the footage. But when he tried to play the video, there was an error message.
Playback Issue
He tried different devices and players, but nothing seemed to work.
The IT Store
Determined to figure out the problem, Peter went to an IT store. He explained the issue to the technician, who tried to troubleshoot the problem. They tried different USB cables, and even tried transferring the video to a different format.
The IT Store
But nothing seemed to work. The store manager recommended a specialist that he should go and see.
The Specialist
Peter then went to see the video specialist, recommended by the store owner. The specialist looked at the USB and said it seemed fine, but something was off. He suggested that the issue might be with the camera.
The Specialist
Peter was at a loss, but decided to visit a camera repair shop.
The Camera Repair
Peter brought the camera to a repair shop, where the technician took a look. It turned out that the camera had been damaged, likely due to exposure to the elements.
The Camera Repair
The technician was able to fix the camera, and Peter was excited to finally watch the footage. He rushed home.
The Video Corruption
But when he tried to play the video again, he realized that the file had become corrupted. He was devastated, feeling like he was back at square one. He couldn’t believe that after all his efforts, he still wouldn’t know who was leaving the roses on his son’s grave.
The Video Corruption
Mary suggested he try and recover the file from the drive directly.
The Drive Recovery
Determined not to give up, Peter went to another specialist who specialized in data recovery. The specialist was able to retrieve the file from the USB drive, but it was incomplete. The video only played for a few seconds before cutting out.
The Drive Recovery
Maybe there was enough though? He took the drive which had the few seconds of film on it home to watch with Mary.
The Partial Clue
Although the footage was incomplete, Peter was able to make out a few details. Peter and Mary rewatched several times to try and make out every possible detail within the frame.
The Partial Clue
They looked closely to see if there was anything out of the ordinary and thought they noticed something interesting.
A Regular Day
Unfortunately, nothing out of the ordinary was captured in the footage. They noticed that the camera had a clear view of the grave, but there was no one in sight. Mary and Peter questioned if they’d made a mistake after watching for more than five minutes.
A Regular Day
But then they noticed movement on the edge of the frame.
A Red Rose
A person dressed all in black approached their son’s burial. They couldn’t say anything about who it could be. The only distinguishing feature was the visitor’s single crimson rose.
A Red Rose
They placed it on the grave without showing their faces. What kind of person was it?
Looking For Clues
Mary and Peter watched the scene several times to see if there were any hints hidden in the video. Mary said it was a lady, but the person was wearing huge sunglasses that obscured the outline of their face.
Looking For Clues
However, there was something familiar about the visitor.
Familiar Features
The woman was of tall stature and medium build. Despite the fact she was completely dressed in black, headscarf and all, they could tell she had long blond, wavy hair. She was wearing high heels and carried a fancy looking charcoal purse.
Familiar Features
She was holding a handkerchief in her other hand and was wearing dark sunglasses. She looked very familiar.
Recognition
Finally, they discovered why they thought they recognized the woman. It was because they were pretty familiar with her. Mary questioned how she was able to be present, but neither of them had an answer.
Recognition
They realized they had to find out what she was up to at the graveyard.
Many Years Ago
They hadn’t seen the woman in more over a decade. Mary and Peter kept watching the movie over and over. Finally, Mary stated that she would be unable to sleep until she had a response from the woman herself.
Many Years Ago
There was clearly something strange going on. There was only one flaw in that strategy.
Getting In Touch
Since so many years had passed, Peter and Mary had no way of contacting the woman. They had no friends who could have assisted them, so their only option was to go to the cemetery and wait for her to return.
Getting In Touch
That was a long shot, but the outcome was completely unexpected.
Nerves
Mary expressed that she was feeling nervous about the situation. It had been a long time since they had spoken to this woman, and even though they desperately wanted to know why she was laying roses every day, she wasn’t sure if she was up to confronting her just yet.
Nerves
Peter held her and told her something that changed everything.
Wisdom
“Mary my dear. This may be tough. But we need to know why she is doing this. Life is about forgiveness, and whatever issues the three of us may have had in the past, we can get over them.” Mary looked at Peter and knew he was right.
Wisdom
She gave him a hug. They prepared to sleep, for tomorrow was the day of confrontation.
A New Day
Peter and Mary got up early in the morning to go to the graveyard. They didn’t know if the woman had a regular schedule or if she just showed up when she felt like it.
A New Day
The last thing they wanted to do was miss her because they arrived late. Someone was already waiting for them when they arrived.
Shared Curiosity
As Peter and Mary arrived at the cemetery, they noticed that the supervisor had already visited their son’s grave. She inquired as to whether they had seen the video.
Shared Curiosity
She looked interested in what Mary and Peter had learnt about the situation. Yet the pair had their own concerns.
Disagreements
In the past, Mary and Peter had had various run-ins with the cemetery supervisor. There were times she had told them they had to repark their car as those spaces were reserved, she had also told them that past a certain time they had to lock up the cemetery and Mary and Peter had to leave.
Disagreements
There was certainly some resentment from Mary and Peter’s side.
Other Run-Ins
Actually, Mary and Peter initially knew this woman from school. She was in the year above and always seemed to be snarky. The couple had the idea that this woman was just a bitter, heartless woman.
Other Run Ins
At least initially. Despite the run-ins, there were times she had shown she cares also.
Extra Care
Mary and Peter understood that often she was just enforcing rules that she didn’t make. For example, there was once an occasion where the graveyard was closing and they needed to leave. They begged her for just a little longer, and she understood and said she would come back in 30 mins.
Extra Care
So perhaps in a caring way, maybe she could also help them with this?
More Information
Mary and Peter inquired of the supervisor about the woman, but the supervisor knew nothing about her other that she came by on a pretty frequent basis.
More Information
Since they’d set up the camera, the supervisor assumed the pair didn’t know either. Yet their reaction took her by surprise.
Unhappy Father
When Peter stated that they knew who the woman was and just wanted to talk to her to find out why she was visiting Michael’s cemetery, the supervisor realized the situation was even more complicated than she had imagined.
Unhappy Father
It was clear that Peter was annoyed by the woman’s presence, but why?
Unasked Questions
The supervisor wondered why the couple didn’t simply call the woman if they needed to speak with her, but she didn’t want to get too involved in their family business by asking. It was clearly a private subject.
Unasked Questions
Instead of leaving them alone, the supervisor did the exact opposite.
Spying
The supervisor feigned to return to her office, but at the last moment, she turned to hide behind a nearby tree. She was already involved to some level and was curious about the mysterious guest who came to the tomb.
Spying
And she didn’t have much time to wait.
A Well-Known Vehicle
The supervisor spotted a car pull into the lot as she was hidden behind the tree. It was one she saw frequently, and she was certain it belonged to the woman who came to see Michael.
A Well-Known Vehicle
She was overjoyed to learn the truth about what was going on.
Ready To Wait
Because Peter and Mary were unaware that they were being watched, they simply sat back and waited. They noticed the car pull into the lot but were unconcerned until the door opened and a woman stepped out.
Ready To Wait
Even from a distance, they recognized her. That had to be her.
Another Red Rose
The woman was clutching a single red rose, just as they’d seen in the video. She took her time approaching the grave and kept her head down. She appeared to know the way without needing to keep a close eye on the path.
Another Red Rose
She froze when she finally looked up.
Stop And Stare
They stood calmly and stared at each other for a few moments. They didn’t move or speak. The supervisor had no idea what was going to happen next.
Stop And Stare
Would they get into a fight? Argue? Scream? She began to wonder if they were even a threat to each other.
An Unexpected Change
Mary finally took a step forward. The supervisor was taken aback to find her happy and even crying from delight. She addressed the woman by name, calling her Noa.
An Unexpected Change
The supervisor couldn’t take his eyes off Peter and the woman’s reactions.
Making A Decision
Peter took a step forward as well, reaching out his arms to the woman named Noa. She didn’t move right away, almost as if she was considering what she should do next.
Making A Decision
But when she made up her mind, she approached Peter and reciprocated his hug. It was as though all the stress had evaporated.
Hugs And Love
The supervisor felt bad for spying on such a touching moment, so she walked away from the tree and went to speak with the trio. They were all enthusiastically crying and hugging one other.
Hugs And Love
It wasn’t what the supervisor had expected, but it was evident that she had overlooked several important aspects.
Chasing The Truth
The supervisor couldn’t stop herself from approaching them in order to learn more about the mysterious visitor to Michael’s cemetery.
Chasing The Truth
Mary and Peter were perplexed as to why the supervisor was still around and why she cared enough to monitor their family’s activities. Her next inquiry surprised them even more.
Just One Question
The supervisor inquired as to who Noa was and why such secrecy was required. Mary and Peter thought her question was impolite, but Noa didn’t seem to bother.
Just One Question
After all, the supervisor had grown accustomed to seeing Noa. The response was nothing short of astonishing.
Reunited
Noa confessed that she was the daughter of Mary and Peter. The boss couldn’t believe it. She’d imagined Noa wasn’t related and was instead an old friend or lover.
Reunited
Yet after learning the reality, the supervisor was even more perplexed as to why Mary and Peter needed to spy on the tomb.
The Whole Tale
Noa revealed that she fled away as a teenager and began her own life. She wasn’t sure her parents would want to see her when she eventually decided to reconnect with them.
The Whole Tale
Instead, she went to Michael’s grave on her own. Noa had a confession to make now that they were back together.
The Funeral
After learning of Michael’s death, Noa informed her parents that she missed them and wanted to be there for them. So when they didn’t recognize her immediately away at the funeral, Noa assumed it was because it had been too long.
The Funeral
She wasn’t convinced Mary and Peter actually wanted to welcome her back into the family.
Coming Home
Peter and Mary were overjoyed to have Noa return to their lives. They’d missed her badly and wanted to make amends in any way they could.
Coming Home
They vowed that nothing would ever come between them again, and that they would work together to commemorate Michael’s memory for years to come.