A Bit of Tomorrow

Seventh

Cassy

Today was mom's death anniversary. I sat in front of my make-up table—well technically not make-up since I don't wear any. I picked up my phone and texted Mark.

To Mark: I'll head first. Meet you there.

He replied after a few minutes.

Mark: Don't want me to pick you up anymore?

I quickly typed in my response.

To Mark: Nope, I remembered I'll be going somewhere else after we go to the cemetery.

After that, I didn't receive any reply from him. He probably is already on his way there or preparing. I looked around my room and grabbed my scarf. It was quite sunny but very humid. I brought it just in case the temperature at the cemetery was different.

I head out to the living room and picked up the picture frame of mom and I. It was a photo of us, taken at the mini garden as we were looking at the camera.

I grew up to be a mother's girl. I admired her so much. She was everything I had. I coupled a breath and walked out of the house.

I opened the car and threw my things inside. I slid on the driver's seat and drove myself to the cemetery. It was a thirty-minute drive to the place. Before I could arrive there, I stopped by a flower shop first to pick up some flowers for mom.

I was parking my car when I happened to catch Ellis walking by. Maybe he worked somewhere nearby.

I opened the glass door to the shop and closed it behind me as the bells rang. I went straightly to the counter and asked for the order I messaged to them yesterday.

Mom's favorite flower was roses. She liked it so much that even her debut and final novel had a book cover with a rose on it. She loved the white one, so every year when I visited her, I'd bring her a bouquet of it.

"Cassy?" a voice chimed out. I lift my head to see who the person was and noticed that it was Ellis.

"Hi, Ellis!" I waved at him, "What brings you here?" I asked him as he walked nearer to me.

"I'm just here to pick up some flowers, obviously." He told me nonchalantly.

"Hmm." I said unconsciously.

"Oh, yeah! Your bracelet, I have it here with me. Wait." He said, feeling his pocket.

"You carry it around?" I asked.

"Well, no. I was about to text you if we could meet so I can give it back to you but here we are anyway." He smiled, gripping a handkerchief over.

"Uhm?" my eyebrows raised in question on why he was handing me a handkerchief.

He caught the meaning and quickly unwrapped the bracelet inside it.

"Oh," I nodded in understanding. I opened my palm for him to drop my bracelet on it.

"Here you go." He grinned.

"Thank you" I gave him a sly smile and put it inside my pocket. I think he was about to say something but the florist interrupted.

"Miss West?", I turned my head to see the bouquet being handed out to me.

"Oh, yes!" I hurriedly went to get it.
"Thank you."

When I looked around to see where Ellis went, he was on his phone talking to someone I walked towards the door and waited for him to land his eyes on me. Once he did, and our gazes met. I felt my cheeks turn to crimson red and then.