I drove to Walton the other day, a small seaside town about 7 miles up the coast from where I live. I parked in the car park at the top of the cliffs overlooking the sea. I was going to go for a walk along the cliffs and then back along the beach; I had brought my camera hoping to get some nice pics, it was late afternoon and had been a beautiful sunny day. As I sat in the car getting my camera ready I noticed the flowers on the bench just in front of my car, there were no people close by and I started to wonder what the flowers were doing there, did someone go off and forget them?

 
That was it, my curiosity was piqued and my imagination took over. The flowers were pink roses, so obviously a gift from a man to a woman, but, where were this couple? I think that’s when I started to see the full picture in my mind: An elderly couple who would come here to walk along the cliffs regularly, maybe sit and talk or just sit, watch the sea together quietly. Then she dies and he is left to walk alone. Maybe this was the anniversary of her death, maybe her birthday or maybe he just wanted to bring her flowers. I could almost see him bending down to place the flowers, then sitting there for a while looking out to sea talking to her silently... I think now that I titled the pic badly, although he had lost the one he loved, he hadn’t “Lost Love�?..

When I got out of the car I walked around the front of the bench for a closer look, there was no card with the flowers. I noticed then that the bench was brand new and there was a brass dedication plate. I quickly looked away. I Didn’t want to know the truth... Maybe, maybe next time I go there I’ll read the plate...