Whispers of Fate

iv

Teo joined me on the balcony at about 10 am and we sat for a while talking before he got the call that he was needed at work. He kissed my forehead and promised to be back before it went dark so we could finish our conversation.

When he had finally left I looked around at my flat, suddenly feeling that it was far too big for just one person. I didn't like it at all so I got changed quickly, deciding I was going to go out for once.

It was a warmer September day, the soft sun accompanied by a cool autumn breeze. I still hadn't collected Coco from my parents or I would have taken her for a walk in the park. It was still early on in the city so most places had just open.

I normally went right, to dine at the bar/restaurant owned by my friend Jack and his partner Dan. I'd order avocado toast and egg and maybe a chai latte if I was feeling generous. We'd discuss my numerous first dates with men I'd met on dating apps or in the back of a seedy club and dissect their failures. It would probably end with me swearing off men altogether and the three of us planning to go out together at some point but never following up on it.

However, this morning I felt like I wanted to do something different from the norm. It had been a completely out-of-the-ordinary week and I could tell the next three months were probably going to be much the same. It's for this reason that I decided to begin my new phase of life by going shopping first.

I turned left and set off to the commercial side of the city. People were awake but it wasn't bustling like it normally was on the weekends. It was a gentle sort of rush, an organised bustle. Everyone knew where they were meant to be and what they were meant to be doing.

I reached the new stretch of shops that had opened recently in an attempt from the council to raise the economy of the area. Various antiques glared at me from one stained window whilst candles and incense dangled in the doorway of a sensory shop. Further down the road was a fresh flower stall, selling all kinds of intricate arrangements. I stopped to admire a particularly elaborate rose bouquet.

No one had ever bought me flowers before, excluding my parents on Valentine 's Day. Not even my high school boyfriend, who had dated me for a year then dumped me unceremoniously 19 days before Christmas and proceeded to date my friend (I was still holding a grudge about that) had bought me flowers. For a moment I allowed myself to imagine that the roses had just been delivered to my door, allowed myself to imagine the shock and delight of receiving such a simple yet thoughtful gift.

"Are you interested?" The seller, a young woman not much older than me, asked. She was dressed in overalls and had a tangle of black curls tied back by a vibrant green bandana. I shook my head and smiled regretfully.

"Out of my price range. They're very beautiful though." The woman smiled and surveyed the roses.

"Flowers are a great gift. The Victorians used to use them to send messages to people. It's called the Victorian flower language." She paused to cast a glance at me. "You look like someone who would know about flowers."

I cocked my eyebrow in surprise, unsure if it was a compliment or an insult.

"Thank you? But I don't, I'm completely clueless about most thing. I know fashion, that's about it." She laughed and shook her head.

"No, I mean you look like you get flowers a lot. You know, you have that Marilyn Monroe doe look that screams 'I have lots of suitors who compete to buy me the best gifts'. That's what I meant." At this I too laughed.

"Ah you're mistaken again. I've never had anyone buy me flowers before."

The woman stopped for a second and narrowed her brows.