The last present
Madame Marie Lemmen always loved flowers, that's why from a very young age, being a damsel in her parents' house, she kept the shelves and tables full of fine vases containing natural flowers that she herself grew in the garden. She not only loved her incredible beauty, but the immense joy that her presence gave and the enchanting perfume that emanated from them.
Daffodils, roses, lilies, calla lilies, tulips, lilies, tuberose, daisies... depending on the season filled the halls of her maternal home.
It was the month of May at the end of the 18th century the day she met her fiancé, at an exhibition of paintings by her cousin Georges Lemmen. She felt an immediate attraction to him, but when this man of refined style and impeccable presence of hers approached her for conversation, she began to sneeze, tears began to stream down her cheeks, and her eyes turned red. suddenly
Marie tried to help him but it was better for her to get away from him because she was the cause of his violent discomfort, since the poor man suffered from a strange condition that at the moment had no treatment. It was only known that he could not get close to flowers.
Young Marcel had to leave the place because he was seen with fear by those present.
The two weeks that he was suffering from the symptoms of this terrible reaction to the proximity of Marie, he only thought about her and the idea of seeing her again to start that and thousands of conversations for the rest of his life.
Through friends who acted as matchmakers, he managed to find out about his family and his whereabouts and establish a relationship through romantic letters.
Soon after, he asked for her hand, for which Marie dispensed with the floral decoration of the salons. She did it the same way at her wedding.
The word allergy only began to be used a few years later, as well as the studies to find a treatment, which became an obsession for Marcel, not so much because of the discomfort his illness caused him as to please his wife in that activity that so much happiness generated him.
Marcel's sensitive organism, far from improving, became more reactive to different stimuli. Added to the nasal symptoms were episodes in which he was short of breath, vomited, and lost consciousness. Fearing imminent death, he left his last will in writing.
Marcel died still young. The doctors listed anaphylaxis as the cause of death.
Returning from the funeral services, Marie found in the main room a dozen vases full of various flowers, those that her husband in life could never give her...
