A sudden burst of laughter caught his attention, and he turned to see a group of children playing nearby, their voices ringing with joy. He watched them from the window, a small smile tugging at his lips, but his heart ached with a sense of longing. He wondered what it would be like to join them, to feel that carefree joy, but the thought was quickly stifled by a familiar shyness.
With a soft sigh, he returned to arranging flowers, finding solace in their beauty and the comfort of his solitude As the flower seller adjusted a bouquet near the window, the soft jingle of the door's bell rang through the shop. He looked up, his dark hair falling slightly across his face, just in time to see a small figure dart inside.
