Memories

Chapter 5

I am so deep in my thoughts and admire the place so much that I didn't even notice that Dara isn't here anymore.

I walk to the pavilion and place my hand on it as I admire it. A gasp leaves my mouth when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn around fast, only to see Dara behind me, smiling widely from ear to ear.

"I see that you like it", she chuckles.

"How can I not? It's amazing here. So pretty and cute. The colors match and it feels so alive in here."

Is it possible to feel adrenaline because of a beautiful place like that? Because I think my heart is going to beat out of my chest.

I clear my throat "What do I have to do? When are the customers coming"

"Today we open later, I want to show you around and tell you what you want to know before we open."

Oh. We don't open because I'm new and must learn first? Because of me people can't buy flowers now.

"But I don't want it to be closed just because of me. I can learn while I watch you."

"Darling don't worry. I like to talk about my plants and it has been years since I told anyone about all these plants. And if I tell you, it will make me super happy, and you will learn at the same time. What do you think about that?"

Hm. If that makes her happy, it's something different, so I agree. Now, I have a new routine. Getting up, make myself ready, walk to work with Dara, a few hours of talking about the flowers and work. I feel great with my new lifestyle. I still miss grandma, but Dara somehow reminds me of her and this helps.

Since Dara is a bit old, she works less than before.

She's there in the morning till 4 pm and goes home while I stay until 8 pm. I like it so much here and I close at 7 pm but for the last one hour I clean or am in the pavilion.

Currently, I'm humming a melody I created myself and clean the floor.

Then I hear shouts outside. My heart starts to beat faster.

I put the broom on the floor and walk to the window to peek out. I see a small girl with platinum blonde hair and her mother. They look the same. But the kid, I would say around 6 years old has tears in her eyes while her mother yells at her.

I gulp and watch the scenario. My heart shatters at the view of the kid with the tears in her eyes. I could see that she holds them back. The kid looks down to her feet and is quiet while her mother keeps going. It triggers something in me as my head starts to hurt.

My brain keeps telling me to move and say something, but my body betrays me and stays still.

Then her mother starts to walk while sighing and the kid follows her while looking down.

How could someone treat its child like this? My headache gets worse. When my body moves again, I sit down on the bench in the shop. My hands were shaking and my heart beating fast.

When it still doesn't stop, I get up and take deep breathes. I think back to the moment, and it only gets worse. I sigh and walk to the other side of the shop and look at the sight. A big lake. I lean against the wall and put my hand on the window. My headache getting worse.

Suddenly I feel a hand on my arm. I gasp and jump up since I know it couldn't be Dara for sure. I turn around.

And oh my god. There is a guy. How did he get in?

I start to analyze him. He had dirty blond hair and blue eyes that remind me of the lake I looked at before. His eyes are not leaving mine. He was taller than me. I would say he was around 6'1 while I was 5'4. I gulp when I start to get nervous under his gaze. It's as if he stares into my soul. I never talked with anyone besides my grandma, boss and now Dara too. I am not so social and prefer to be alone.

The guy's deep voice takes me back to reality.

"Did I scare you? I'm sorry, I didn't want to but after seeing that you didn't feel well when I looked in the window, I decided to check on you. Are you okay?"

It feels like my voice isn't there anymore. So, I nod. "Oh, excuse me, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Timothe. Timothe Larsen."

He then brings his hand forward for me to shake it. I notice that my hands didn't shake anymore. The panic from earlier leaving. I shake his hand. "Lycorida. Lycorida Brown."

He smiles. My eyes drop to his cheeks. Dimples.

I gulp and look away and bring my hands back. "Nice to meet you, Lycorida. Unique name and pretty. Suits you. I like it."

I blush. This is the first compliment of a guy I got. The first conversation even. And I blushed over a compliment on my name.

I look back into his deep ocean eyes. How should I respond? I gulp. "Thank you."

"So, are you okay, miss?"

Even though he knows my name now he calls me miss. "Yes, I uh thank you for caring and making sure that I'm OK."

I smile nervously and he smirks. "Are you nervous?"

My eyes widen and my heart beats faster. But not in a bad way. This feeling is new.

"W-What? No. I'm completely fine. It's just warm in here." This is a bad excuse. And a bad lie. His smirk widens, showing me that he knows that it is an excuse. I try to change the topic by looking at the time. "Oh, already 8 pm. I should go home."

I try to walk past at him, but he steps in front of me, blocking my way to walk further. "Hm, alone? I'll accompany you home, little flower."

Oh, God. Little flower? My stomach starts to twist. Do I have butterflies in my stomach? I never felt butterflies in my stomach before. I just read many romance books and they always mention it but now I think I am feeling it.

I bring my thoughts back.

Concentrate. Concentrate. Concentrate.

"It's okay, I live nearby and-"

"Good, I'll accompany you." He sounds sure and stubborn, so I don't argue back. I can't lie and tell I don't want him to accompany me home. "Uhm okay. Sure, I guess."

He smiles and walks to the door. He opens the door and lets me walk out first. Gentleman. He then closes the door. When he is also out, I take the keys and lock the shop. With that we start to walk down the street.

The sun has already set but it was still bright enough. The sky is a mix of orange and pink. We walk together and I look at him.

"Why are you doing this? I mean accompany me home and all that."

"First I saw how bad you felt earlier, you almost passed out and second of all, I can't let a pretty girl like you walk all the way back home without protection, could I?"

"So, you do that often?" He for sure helped others too, I shouldn't think I'm so special. He doesn't even know me.

"No, I don't. But I wanted to help you. Now stop asking questions and admire the sky like you want to. I can see how much you like the sight. And the sky is different everyday so admire it as much as you can."

He speaks the words I think of. How does he do that? I smile and look at the sky. In that moment I don't even care that I walk down the street with a stranger. He knows what to say and do. Exactly like Dara. He makes me feel safe even though I have only known him for like 20 minutes. How does he do that?

When I see my house in the distance, I feel disappointed. Why do I feel like this? What did that guy do? "I uhm live right here, so you should go back home now too. Before it gets dark."

He nods. "Do you always walk home alone, little flower?"

My heart beats faster again. How does he do that so quickly? "Yes" I mumble.

"Good, I'll bring you home tomorrow again. Good night, little flower." With that he walks away. When he was far enough, I notice that I hold my breath. I take a deep breath and feel how my cheeks burn. I get in my house and take my shoes off. I then walk upstairs. I just finished the rooms upstairs today.

I worked and still work most of the time and that's why I have decided to do it day to day and not all at once like before. It takes longer but it is way easier this way and I don't get as tired as last time.

I walk upstairs, Timothe not leaving my mind.