The Enigmatic Flowers of Everwood

Chapter 11: The Commotion

Sonora, who had just arrived from a flower delivery, swiftly dropped her bike to the ground as she spotted Dew. Without a moment's hesitation, she rushed towards him and firmly took hold of his hand.

Dew, caught off guard by Sonora's sudden presence, stared at her with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

Sonora tightened her grip on Dew's hand, urging him to spare a few minutes.

Sonora: "Dew, You got a few minutes."

Dew, weary and disheartened, replied that he had no interest in flowers and had merely stumbled into the shop by mistake.

Dew: "I... I don't want any flowers. I stopped by here by mistake."

As he spoke, Sonora abruptly mentioned the wild animal attack that had taken away his family.

Sonora (frustrated): "Dew, please, just listen for a moment. I know it's painful, but we need to talk about the wild animal attack that took your family away."

Mama Cynthia and Lana, still recovering from their earlier dispute, felt a wave of nervousness wash over them. Their faces displayed a mix of shock and fatigue, not wanting to relive the tension they had just resolved moments ago. The customers, too, stood in uneasy silence, holding themselves back from intervening.

Mama Cynthia (whispering to Lana): "Oh no, here we go again."

Lana (whispering back): "I can't believe she's bringing it up now. This is not going to end well."

Customer 1(chiming into their conversation): "Did she really bring that up now?"

Unaware of the commotion her words had caused before, Sonora continued to speak about the incident. Dew, devoid of strength and will to fight any longer, reached out and gently released Sonora's grip.

Dew: "You people don't know what it feels like to lose a family. It's as if their presence is still there in the house—their beds, plates, clothes, memories—everything except them. You can't let go of them, nor can you bring them back. Every time you enter the house, you hear their voices, their laughter, so you search for them everywhere, only to realize it's all in here." *He points to his head*

Dew: "Knowing that you could have saved them, but you didn't. The weight of guilt I'm carrying right now is nothing but some news to people like..." *He gestures to everyone present*

His words struck a chord with everyone, and the scorching sun seemed to cool down as a gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers from the shop. Even the birds, seeking refuge from the heat, began to soar through the sky.

But the anxious yet sympathetic onlookers stood there holding their breath, not wanting to disrupt the emotional exchange between Sonora and Dew.

Upon hearing Dews rant Sonora slowly lowered her head, and then unleashed a powerful punch to Dew's stomach, her voice filled with frustration.

Sonora: "Hear me out, you son of a nutjob!"

The once-anxious atmosphere transformed into a chaotic frenzy.

Customer 2: "What on earth is happening?"

Customer 3: "I can't believe they're fighting!"

Customer 4(holding her phone on her hand): "Should we call the police?"

Mama Cynthia swiftly intervened, grabbing hold of Sonora to prevent another punch, reminding her of the watching customers and the potential consequences for the shop's future.

Gradually, Sonora calmed down, while Lana rushed to assist Dew, who was now on the ground, doubled over in pain, coughing from the impact. Slowly rising to his feet, Dew, driven by a surge of adrenaline, suddenly seized Sonora by her hair.

Mama Cynthia (whispering): "Oh dear, this is escalating quickly."

Lana (whispering): "I hope they don't start throwing punches again."

Before he could utter another word or take further action, she delivered a forceful punch to his face this time, causing blood to stream from his nose, and he collapsed, unconscious.

Mama Cynthia dragged Sonora away by her ear, scolding her and demanding an explanation for her behavior.

Lana, meanwhile, apologized to the customers and the few people on the street who had witnessed the chaotic scene. She politely requested that they leave the shop, explaining that it was closing due to unforeseen circumstances.

Lana: "I apologize for the disturbance, everyone. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we'll be closing the shop for the day. We appreciate your understanding."

The customers, murmuring about what they had just witnessed, complied and left, leaving the once-bustling shop in a state of somber reflection.

Customer 1: "I can't believe it came to this. Such a tragic story."

Customer 3: "They must be going through so much pain."

Customer 2: "I hope they find some resolution."