Love, or Let Me Go

air, smooth and calming, reminiscent of a worn

lready this morning, each time greeting a regular or a passerby attracted by the season's display. Today, the front table was

ing the arrangement as a painter woul

ht ranunculus. It was tall pink, almost modest, and it re

li

s. They were four years married, and it had been like living in a ghost house ever since. Julian remained there - physically - but not in spir

e plans for their

of nurturing it like a wilting flower. But even she co

as marking a thirty-year wedding anniversary. They'd included a note with the order that said, To my first and last love. Thi

ter. She turned and dried off on

li

te had some board thing

I love you." Just the usual col

rs poised inches from the keys. A tiny voice at the

dhood. His business partner. His friend in everythi

typed

k

too exhausted to con

est. She did not cry. She had not cried in months. Instead, her hurt solidified li

ll h

, in the doorway, coffee cradled in one hand

blinked out o

space again," Miri said s

ed hastily. Too has

ook of concern in her eyes was unmistakabl

tory in back," Miri suggeste

d to touch her dark curls. She stood in profile before the mirrored wall, sun-tipped blos

g to the page she'd lain awake ov

arcello's dinner, a floral design class for coupl

or na

could breathe life into dying stems, make sense out of chaos into so

that she did not sell, but retained. There was a vase of camellias in the center, de

o her shop, three years ago when she'd just opened. He'd brou

" he had said, spinning slowly in th

te. He reeked of whiskey and wood tone - the smell of the exclusive clubs he went to with Celeste and

still lo

y? Or devotion? S

, giggling, followed by her mother. Amara str

e," she

ies," the mother said. "

irl chose a bunch of coral pink blooms. Her fin

ngement and delivered

ike a hug," she said fondl

at constrict

red to herself, "If only I

own on the street. Amara sat at the counter and opened her journal - the one

ne

id not ask. Though he forgot once more. I still lit a candle th

did n

hose

imes I can forgive what

sed the

in their vase. Silent. Red. Floated in an atm

power was developi