Looking for the Light Through the Darkness

Chapter 3: Flowers

Wind rushed through the window that I rested my head against as I waited for my bus stop. The bus was quiet accept for the occasional cough or movement or clothing. In total there may have been five or six people on the bus. A male sat to my right after the second stop, his arms brushed against my sides once and a while as he, I assumed, played with his phone. He wore a soft coat suit so I assumed he was a business worker traveling between different locations. To my left, was a new mother who held a baby in her arms. She whispered to him softly when ever he began to whimper in her arms.

About ten minutes later, the bus driver called out my stop and I carefully stood making sure not to knock into the mother or the business man before I stepped off. Pulling out my walking stick, I made my way down the street trying to avoid tripping as many people as I could. I was getting better, I knew to walk slowly so that people had time to move around me. I had learned to also make sure the swinging radius of my stick was only about a foot so I didn't catch anyone's feet by accident.

The scent of baked goods filled my nose and smiled realizing I was close. After walking a block more, my nose filled with the smell of fresh flowers. Moving to the center of the scent I carefully pulled open the door and stepped in. The little bell sounded letting everyone know that someone had arrived.

"Avery?" I called out when no one responded. The set up of the flower shop I had memorized. It was a contained space so I was easily able to maneuver about without the use of my cane. Stepping through the swinging door, I stepped behind the counter and placed my walking stick into the small cubby I had claimed to be mine before grabbing an apron and wrapping it about before entering farther into the store.

"Hello?" A deep voice called out and I shifted down the isle. The voice was male but it sounded a little soft as though something was keeping the noise from reaching my ears but I recognized it.

"Marc?" I called out and placed my hand on the side wall searching for the knob for a second before pulling the door open. There was a soft scent of lilacs mixed with the scent of tea leaves.

"Sang! Where have you been?!" Marc's voice was inches away and I smiled as I was wrapped up in a quick hug before there was the shifting of plastic cases. I stepped out of the way holding the door as Marc stepped out I assumed carrying flowers.

"Had a bit of an accident this morning." I responded following him to the planting center in the back corner. I made sure to down play the sound of an accident not wanting to explain again what had happened this morning and quickly changed topics. "What is the schedule today and where is Avery?"

"Avery just stepped out to do a delivery and pick up lunch. As far as the schedule goes we are packed. We have two pick ups at four and then three deliveries. Avery laid everything out for you just incase you came in while she was away." Marc explained over the noise of him removing the flowers from their containers.

With a nod, I moved to my station and shifted about. Obviously I couldn't read the original requests and applications filled out by the customers but I knew scents and I remembered the look of each of the flowers. So as a team Avery and I would work together and create the different arrangements. She had set up a small chart with all of the different names of the flowers on it in brail. For each delivery she would place a different shaped stone on the flowers necessary. In addition, she would set out the different vases necessary to fill for each delivery. This allowed me to I arrange the flowers so that the scent was appealing and prepare them for pick up. While Avery would do the final check before they were sent out.