Flower Shop | BTS

Chapter 20

-December 31st, 2017

The foundation of the dead and memoir for the living, no matter how heavy the wind blew, stood erect in silence. Row upon row of white marble tombstones carpeted the graveyard like a sea of the dead.

Hoseok and Jimin let their feet tread lightly over the soil as they rest their eyes on her name, their hearts hearing the sound of her voice as if she were right there with them.

Everything was the same yet different. The winter trees stood naked as they had before, but their twigs curled in a distorted way. The sky was a mass of grey clouds, again so ordinary for December, but instead of letting small shafts of light through, they emitted an ethereal glow.

Standing on the grounds where the dead lined up in the earth's embrace, the two boys visited Mrs. Wilson.

Her gravestone was as white as the crystalline snow. Amongst many others, it seemed to have an aura of its own. Hoseok reached out, at first with red woolen fingers to touch the marble and run his fingers over the black engraved lettering, but he quickly removed the glove. His bare fingers blanched in the chilly wind, but he didn't care. Somehow, the feel of the stone on his skin brought him peace.

"Mrs. Wilson, look at you so dashing..." he sighed, "yet you look a bit tired. It's probably exhausting to watch over fools like us, isn't it? But thank you, anyways. I'm positive that without you looking after me, I wouldn't have made it... You know, I also saw my parents in the hospital. My mom felt bad and apologized to me before leaving for heaven. Take care of her for me, please."

Jimin patted his back gently, gesturing that it was his turn to speak.

"Good evening, Mrs. Wilson. I hope you're not tired of us. We could be a handful sometimes. But I know you can do it, you are a strong woman. Also... I wish for your blessings because I'll be opening my own flower shop today. I tried to make it look like yours, but I still added a contemporary twist to it. I will anticipate your soul hovering over us tonight, please come," he expressed heartily.

And as if on cue, delicate and subtle streaks of the moonlight seeped through the clouds and illuminated over them.

Later that night, a crowd cramped the flower shop and surrounded Jimin as he hosted, "Welcome everyone to my flower shop. I am so thrilled to have you here celebrate it's opening with me on the new year's eve!" the cheers erupted like an auditory volcano.

The shop was a riot of colors, and the celebration went on into the night. Everyone was dancing like they'd forgotten how to stand still, and it was an epic party of pure joy and spirit.

Then as the clock struck midnight, fireworks burst above, searing their brilliant lights and vivacious colors onto the azure. Each one drew a pattern into the sky, all unique and breathtaking like never seen before.

While the sky was being painted with fiery flares, Hoseok had a moment of reflection on the past year of rollercoasters.

-Starting a tribute to Mrs. Wilson with Jimin.

-Being diagnosed with cancer

-Falling into a coma.

He went through all the year's events, one by one, until he reached how ten times closer he has gotten to Jimin, and smiled.

Saying that the year was eventful would have been quite the understatement. The boys have gone through a lot. Moments of sadness and despair were shared alongside others of bliss and jubilation.

"Jimin, there was a time all you said was gold, and your eyes were the rainbows in any storm. But then, the light faded and all that remained was rain; cold drops of rain that brought my skin to ice. Yet under that rain, the memory of you became my star, It was sometimes hidden by grim clouds, but always there. Perhaps it was your voice in the wind that took it from a cruel bite to mere cold, enabling my soul to survive in that frozen wasteland.

Or perhaps you weren't the knight in my battle, but the ground and the whisper in the trees while I fought and grew strong. I'm not sure. However, now that I'm strong enough, I'll be the hopeful sun in your storms. I'll save your mind from the voices in your head. I'll be your hope," Hoseok solemnly promised.

THE END