Skies & Florets

Chapter 25

LILAC

The bell above the door jingles softly as I pull it closed, shutting out the outside world and leaving the vibrant colors and fragrant scents of Heavenly Florets behind.

I glance at Quentin, who stands just a few feet away, his expression a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. My heart r a c e s in my chest, pounding against my ribs as I realize we're finally going to have the conversation we both desperately need.

"Where do we start?" I ask, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, unsure of how to bridge the gap that years of silence have created between us.

"Maybe we start with why we lost touch," he suggests, a hint of vulnerability in his voice. "I want to know what happened with you. Everything."

I nod, grateful for his willingness to dive into the past. "I guess it all began when you moved away. It was hard for me to understand why you left without saying goodbye. I thought we had something special, and when you disappeared. . . it felt like you took a part of me with you."

He winces, and I can see the regret written across his features. "I never wanted to hurt you, Lilac. My family moved, and it all happened so fast. I thought about you all the time, but I didn't know how to reach out."

"I spent years wondering if you ever thought of me, too," I confess, feeling a mix of relief and sadness as the truth spills from my lips. "I started my flower shop to keep myself busy, but I often found myself reminiscing about our childhood—our adventures, all the little things we did. Like when we used to play in the backyard, making up stories about every single thing."

Quentin chuckles softly, and a smile breaks across his face. "Oh, I remember that! You were always the brave knight, and I was the timid dragon. I can't believe we thought we were so clever!"

"Those were the best days," I reply, my heart swelling with warmth as we share a nostalgic moment. "I missed you so much, Quentin. Every year that passed felt like an eternity."

"I missed you, too," he admits, his voice dropping to a hushed tone. "It's so good to see you again, like stepping into a dream I thought I'd lost forever."

Our gazes lock, and for a moment, time seems to stand still. The air around us crackles with an unspoken connection, a reminder of the bond we once shared as children. I can feel the warmth radiating from him, and my heart begins to race, echoing the unsteady rhythm of a long-forgotten melody.

"Do you remember the time we built that massive fort in my living room?" I ask, trying to keep the atmosphere light. "We used all the pillows and blankets we could find, and my mom thought we were going to break something."