IT31 || 31 days of IT

8 - Stan Loves Flowers

based off "The Man Who Loved Flowers" by Stephen King.
Thank you GoreBabe 
for being such an incredible co-writer!!

The sun was setting. Orange hues danced across the sky behind the white clouds. The orange and red slowly faded to a violet further upward in the sky. The air was cool and there was only a soft wind blowing its way east.

Stan smiled to himself and walked down the newly paved road. He ran his skinny fingers through his curly hair and whistled a happy tune softly to himself. Every face he passed seemed to lighten. Postures straightened, smiles formed, and eyes softened. Just from one glance at Stanley Uris.

Stan sighed contently as he reached the flower shop. He carefully opened the door and walked inside. The aroma from the arranged flowers around him traveled into his nose. He breathed in the beautiful smell deeply. 

He walked to the counter and ordered half a dozen roses and half a dozen carnations. The employee smiled at him sweetly.

"For a special someone?" she asked. A hint of jealousy played in her songlike voice.

"Very much so" Stan ran his fingers in circles on the marble counter and stared down at it. A smile stayed on his face. "He's a magnificent one"

"I'm happy for you" she walked away to gather the flowers that Stan had ordered. 

While he waited, he listened to the radio that played from behind the counter. A song had just ended and the news started to play.

"A young black man has been found in the local quarry over the weekend. His cause of death is a hammer to the skull. This is the sixth killing this week. The killer is unfortunately still on the loose" the reporter spoke over the radio. 

"Crazy isn't it?" The employee was back. She held the flowers out. Stan sighed with a nod and pulled the dollars from his wallet.

"The world is just a crazy place" Stan responded gently. He held the money out then took the flowers. "Thank you, ma'am" he smiled confidently, turned on his heel, then exited the building.

He walked down the street, holding the flowers close to his chest so he could enjoy the soft scent. Every woman he passed stared with jealous eyes. Men were hit by their spouses for not being as sweet as Stanley Uris. Stan didn't even bother to share a glance. His eyes stared ahead anxiously but sweetly. 

The sun continued to set. The orange colors that once filled the sky slowly dimmed to darkness. The first stars began to glow just as Stan entered an alley. He walked down it, his smile only widening as he stared at the man in a tuxedo that stood by the door to the local cafe. 

"Mike! I got flowers for you" Stan smiled, gently tapping the man's shoulder. The man turned and looked down at Stan with confused eyes. His lips curved downward into a frown as he pushed Stan's hand free from his shoulder.

"I'm sorry man, you've got the wrong guy" the man's voice was husky and his breath carried the smell of cigarettes. Stan gulped and clenched his jaw. Tears stung at his eyes. The man looked him over, gazing down across the flowers. Just as he went to turn away, he noticed something bulged on the side of Stan's jacket. 

Stan reached back under his jacket and took out a hammer that had been safely tucked under the waistband of his pants. With one swift pummel, the man fell to the dirt. Stan knelt down and wacked the stranger over the head again and again. 

The rage started to subside and Stan's attack came to a stop. He breathed heavily, wiped the hammer off on the man's tuxedo, then tucked it back away safely where it had been before. He looked at the flowers that he had dropped, picked them back up, and dusted the petals off gently. 

"Let's get you in a vase, shall we?" Stan sniffled and continued down the alley and headed home. 

He walked inside and shut the door behind him. He locked it then walked through his house to the kitchen. He walked past the endless amount of obituaries that were scattered all across the living room floor. Most of them had been ripped up or crumpled but the name 'Mike Hanlon' could still be made out if examined close enough.

Stan filled a vase with water and carefully placed the flowers inside. He stared at them, a small smile staying on his face.

"Mike will love you. I'll deliver you beauties to him tomorrow"

With that, he left for the bathroom and drew himself a bath. He relaxed. The blood that had stained his skin now staining the water. 

"We will be reunited again, my dear" he hummed, letting his eyes close and his body rest. "soon"