CHAPTER 15
THE TALE OF A RED ROSE
I walked out of the secret office extremely satisfied but something began nagging at the back of my head.
My wife had taught me that sex was more than just a physical connection. If you liked her enough to have sex with her, you should like enough to care about her general wellbeing and her problems. A philosophy well represented by how much better my life got after we broke that barrier.
During the crazy sequence of the last events, I noticed something. I guess I could call it an insecurity or maybe it was just jealousy?
Was I getting ahead of myself? And if I was right should I do something about it? Was it any of my business or would I be snooping?
Ah! It was so complicated. I tried forgetting about it but it came up once again when I passed by Eleanor.
She was basically in the same position I left her in more than a few seconds ago! Still almost mindlessly tapping on her computer only moving her head to check some of the physical documents she had nearby.
She didn't even notice when I waved goodbye merely nodding her head. Should I do something about it or was it none of my business?
I tried forgetting about the mater as I rode to the hospital. At least I was in a better state to be there though the thought left a bad taste in my mouth due to it's selfishness. It just didn't feel right.
I decided to buy a small bouquet of flowers as I went in. The little munchkin loved flowers and her sense of smell being one of the few things not to be affected by the medicine made her love them more.
I choose a cute little bouquet made of white roses with a singular red rose in the middle not once did it come across my mind that it seemed a little too romantic.
And it must have looked worse with me rushing through the hospital as it was pointed out rather subtly by the nurse I met at the reception.
"Are you looking for Mary?" She asked barely being able to hide her excitement.
Ah! So Mary's her name. Well that's another potentially awkward moment convinently removed from my path.
I smiled charmly and left not wishing to lead on whatever thoughts she was having. Wait did this mean that she was feeling something?
Also there was the small matter of her having the same name as… Was this fate or a mere coincidence?
I walked around now with two major problems. I was basically a mindless zombie walking around but I still somehow made it to my destination. Not before bumping into the one person I'd rather not have met at that moment.
"Hi, I'm sorry," she said with a nervous little chuckle. A faint blush on her cheeks or was I imagining it?
I mumbled something and stood up helping her to her own feet.
"A cute little bouquet you have there," she said nudging towards my hand. Somehow it has survived somehow sticking to my hand.
"T-this one is for you,"I said picking a random flower unable to look away from her beautiful face.
Goddamit Laura, look down! Look down! Not her breast you stupid…! Aaargh! Just don't stare! Don't stare goddamit!
And thus began what seemed like forever of glitching out as I figured out what to do next, convinently stopping me from noticing her blush furiously before looking down and eventually taking the rose.
"So I-i'll pass by you when my shift is over," she said breaking me out of my stupidor.
"Y-yeah sure," I said realizing that now driving home together had become a thing.
I didn't know why she wanted to do it but I appreciated the little gesture and plus who said no to free rides.
She charmed me with her smile and walked away. I was about to go my own way too when I noticed her hand, fuck!
Was that a red rose? I blinked a few times refusing to believe my very eyes. If I had glasses this was the point where I would wipe them and give it another look but however I looked at it there was no denying that rose was red.
I looked back to the bouquet in my hands hoping for some kind of miracle but to my dismay it was missing a very obvious component, fuck!
I mean out of all the fuckin roses it just had to be the red one. I must have done something really bad to the gods to deserve this! I thought to my self.
What if she already had a boyfriend? A girlfriend? A husband or a wife or even worse a family? I had really fucked up this time.
And even if she was single, did I want this? Did she want this? I only wanted to be friends, right! Right!
My mind continued bothering me with such questions untill I finally decided to go into my daughters room allowing myself to dissolve into her small hands, cute face and infectious happiness.
It was our normal talk, entering into long winded aimless conversations as we passed the time.
The matter lingered though, especially when my daughter showed me her latest drawing. I couldn't help but think of what she might think of this as I stared at a huge star on top of her drawing.