In the Language of the Flowers

| 21 |

✾ Cyclamen ✾

The note was crumpled in my pocket. I could feel it even through my mitten. It was just a piece of paper, but my whole world had shifted because of it.

I rushed down the street. The wind bit at the spots where my skin was exposed, but I could barely feel it. Out of breath, I leaned into the winter storm and cut through the snow. When I finally arrived, my cheeks stung and the note was even more crushed and worried over.

The bell tinkled as I opened the door with a mittened hand. I stepped inside and looked around anxiously.

"Sallie," I said, relieved. She was sitting at our usual table at Mille-Feuille with a mug between her hands.

"You look like a lunatic," she helpfully commented. "Jesus, Duckling. Where's your scarf?"

I shook my head. "Doesn't matter. Have you heard from Ren?"

She set her mug down. "Is this you asking me if he's ok again? Because my answer hasn't changed."

"That's not what I'm-"

"Sal, they're out of...oh, hello." A girl had approached the table and planted herself beside Sallie. She had bouncy black curls and olive skin half a shade lighter than mine. A dusting of freckles graced her nose and cheeks. Her lips tipped up at the corners, making her look like she was half-smiling, half-omniscient. She was incredibly beautiful, the kind of beautiful that sort of glows a little bit in dark rooms. "I'm Marley."

"Nice to meet you, Marley," I said, holding out my hand. She extended hers, but I jerkily pulled mine back again and tugged off my mitten. I smiled nervously and offered my mitten-free hand once more. We finally completed our strange human greeting ritual. Thankfully, she smiled and giggled away my self-resentment.

"That was awkward," Sallie mumbled.

Marley smacked her arm. "You must be Beau. The Duckling."

"That's an embarrassing nickname, now that I think about it," I said, removing my other mitten and unbuttoning my coat.

"Nah, I don't think so. My parents named me after Bob Marley because they were listening to him while I was being conceived, so... I just think your nickname is nice. And Sallie really adores you."

"Oi, let's not reveal all my secrets to the kid, huh?" Sallie said. "Jeez."

I liked Marley. She was a very bright person. She wore a brilliant yellow shirt which somehow just looked like sunshine on her instead of a hazmat suit. "I don't mind sharing your secrets, Sal. You know everybody else's."

"That doesn't mean other people need to know mine," Sallie protested.

"I think it's only fair. Right, Beau?" Marley said, looking at me.

"Who knows?" I said diplomatically.

"That's a very neutral answer," Sallie pointed out.

"How long have you two been friends?" I asked, looking back and forth between them. I watched from a shallow puddle of awe as they simultaneously turned to give each other a knowing look. They were speaking telepathically to each other. It was the only explanation.