
Fallen but Raised
The walled garden is filled with enormous camellia trees, whose white, red and pink flowers generously extend their symbolic message of love and affection. Almost blending in with the abundant foliage, an old man, Armand Germont, is patiently tending the plants, although the crisp autumn chill is biting his fingers. With 48 years of persistent, daily care, he has singlehandedly turned the garden into an impressive sanctuary for camellias.
While pruning, weeding and fertilizing, Armand is smilingly talking to his flowers, “Unworthy?” he says, “Fallen? No, darling, you are pure perfection!” “I will always love you.” Like mantras, he keeps repeating the same words. His devotion is revealed by them, as well as by each one of his gentle movements.
-o-o-o-
When Armand was a young man, Violetta Valery entered his life. With a beautiful camellia flower decorating her coiffure, she instantly became his “Lady of the Camellias.” Her past as an escort for rich, older gentlemen didn’t matter to him. Once their souls entered the same orbit, time gracefully yielded to the present moment.
Both of them instinctively knew that they were created for each other. Still, Armand’s father soon convinced Violetta that her past would destroy the future of his family. Because of her love for Armand, Violetta stepped back, sacrificing her happiness for the honor of her beloved. Armand was unaware of the reason for her disappearance until rumors about her sickness reached him. With a bouquet of camellias in his hands, he rushed to her bedside, only to meet a pale and weak Violetta, violently coughing.
After her death, Armand never again cared for women. Instead, he became obsessed with camellias, studying them, cultivating them, communicating with them; trying to understand their wordless, hidden messages.
-o-o-o-
In the late afternoon, as the sun connects with the anticipating horizon, Armand keeps working, happily unaware of time and space. Just like all other days, a woman appears in the brick building’s garden door and calls to him, “Monsieur Germont! Supper time! Sister Genevieve is waiting for you with your pill and your evening tea.”
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleA beautiful and perfect story, Christer! You’ve woven literary and operatic references seamlessly into your own unique tale of the eternal nature of love. I’m so glad to meet Armand/Alfredo again, as an old man “happily unaware of time and space” in spite of all the drama of his youth. The title is also perfect, with its multiple references, including joyous redemption and perhaps even a reunion of sorts.
It makes me especially happy and humble to see that you liked the story, Fuji. Thank you so much for your nice words! And, of course, I enjoyed very much that you observed the references to Alexandre Dumas’ book and Verdi’s opera. I’ll let you in on a secret: until I was ready to send the story, both names, Armand and Alfredo, were still in the text. Still after having read it… Read more »
Such an emotional story Christer. How sad the sacrifice Violetta chose to make when Armand loved her unconditionally. All those lost years when they could have lived happily together. Such a bittersweet ending. Their story went straight to my heart.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI’m glad to hear that my story touched your heart, Linda. Yes, at that time (and maybe still today), social rules and preconceived ideas could make it difficult for true love to prosper. But it can be the source of great art. And, sometimes, nice gardens 🙂 !
What a sad but beautiful story Christer. True love never dies, and this comes across in your story well as we see Armand in his latter years, still talking to the love of his life through the camellias they’d both loved. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Carrie! I am glad you enjoyed the story. Thanks for your nice words.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHello Christer, I have not been able to read or comment of late because my computer has been in for repair, and there has been so much activity that I feel I have been away for years – so much to catch up on. I feel like I have been thrown into the deep end with so many excellent stories to read. When Love makes a sacrifice it stirs in us feelings… Read more »
Hi Eric – Really glad you are back, we have all missed you! I am also trying to get back to writing, especially hope to return to my favorite art of handwriting script. I just read this story from Christer which ignited some renewed inspiration. When I read above that “time gracefully yielded to the present moment”, it seemed unfortunate Violetta could not be truly present with Armand. You are correct Eric, this… Read more »
Thanks for your comment, Culture Dragon. It sounds very inspiring to work with handwriting script. I’m sure that it’s beautiful and wish I could see it! It makes me happy to see that my story sent some feelings of inspiration in your direction. Yes, of course, it is sad that Armand and Violetta couldn’t stay joined for many years during their life time. At the same time, unhappy love stories like this… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYes Christer – you are wise to remind us that the loss Armand and Violetta experienced may have been the necessary fuel for Armand’s future obsession. “After her death, Armand never again cared for women. Instead, he became obsessed with camellias, studying them, cultivating them, communicating with them”. So the study of language is my obsession, haha, and handwriting is something I lost, which I hope to find again in this digital… Read more »
I’m glad to see you back, Eric. Thanks for your nice comment. I appreciate it. What you say about Love is so true – we should always try to make the effort of letting go of the past and stay in the present moment, extending the Love we all share within. What I imagined for Armand (and Violetta) was an insight in the difficult fact that sometimes, when forced to give up… Read more »
Hello Christer. This is an exceptional story, made even more so by some of your responses to readers’ comments. I could not agree more that unrequited love is the basis for much of our great literature, music, art. The Tristan-Isolde theme, the love/death legend, has inspired Shakespeare, Messiaen, Wagner, and countless others. Your take on the Dumas Camille, however, is even more profound. There is a love, as you said, deeper and… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleDear Juma, thank you so much for your comment, so full of generosity, insight and understanding. You give some good examples of what love lost has offered us from some creative minds. I love it that you see the story as celebratory rather than bittersweet. Armand is a happy man. The situation for the young heroes in your story is still in its first stage. They still have a long night’s darkness… Read more »
An extraordinary tale between two lovers with infinite love for each other. Even Armand is fallen after the death of Violetta; he never cared for another woman. Instead he raised his love for Violetta by means of cultivating,studying and communicating with Camellias.
Thank you for reading my story, Lotchie. It makes me happy to know that you found something of value in it.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThis story popped up just now on the Home page of Voice in the “Great Content” section. What a treat to read it again, especially since this is once again the time of year for camellias. This was one of my favorites of all your stories, Christer!
Wow! Thanks, Fuji! What a great treat to be reminded of this story after a year! And how sweet of you to take time not only to read it again, but also to contact me and express your feelings about it. It made my day! I wasn’t aware of the existence of the “Great Content” section on this site. After I read your message, I found it, but with others stories. I… Read more »
That is such exciting news about your twelve chapter story! Maybe you could take an excerpt or two and translate to English for the current Family contest! I really miss your wonderful comments and observations. I think the Home/Great Content section must randomly pick four items each time it’s refreshed. I also use the Search menu item a lot when I want to find a particular story. I can’t always remember the… Read more »
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