The next morning, Katrina arrived at the shop early, eager to see if the man with the flowers would come again. She couldn't explain why, but there was something about him that kept tugging at her thoughts. Was it his quiet sadness? Or the way he always walked with such purpose toward the cemetery?
The door jangled, and there he was. She had barely finished arranging the daisies when he stepped inside, just as he had done every morning for the past few weeks.
"Morning," he said, his voice as quiet and steady as ever.
"Morning," Katrina replied, trying her best to sound casual. "White lilies today?"
He nodded without hesitation, and she made her way to the cooler to select the freshest blooms. Her mind was racing. This was the moment. She could feel it. It was time to ask the question she had been dying to know the answer to.
As she wrapped the bouquet, she took a deep breath and handed him the flowers with a small smile. "I saw you walking to the cemetery yesterday," she said, her voice tentative but sincere. "Do you visit someone there?"
Daniel's eyes flickered, and for a moment, Katrina thought he might turn and leave without saying a word. But then, he spoke, his voice lower, almost like a confession. "Yes. I visit... my fiancée."
Katrina's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected that answer—not in a million years. "I'm sorry," she said softly, unsure of what to say next but feeling the weight of his words.
"It's... okay," Daniel replied, his face as unreadable as ever. "It's been a while. But I promised her I'd bring her lilies."
Katrina nodded, trying to make sense of it all. She could see how much he meant the words, but the distance in his eyes made it clear that there was a deeper pain she couldn't reach.
"Do you..." she started, her voice a little hesitant. "Do you visit often?"
"Every day," he answered. "She's been gone for over a year, but I still keep my promise."
Katrina felt a lump form in her throat. She couldn't even imagine what it would be like to lose someone so close, someone you had promised to love forever. "I'm sure she would've loved the flowers," she said softly, hoping it was the right thing to say.
Daniel's lips tightened for a moment, but he didn't respond. He simply handed her the cash, his movements mechanical, and turned to leave. As he walked out, Katrina watched him go, a strange mix of sympathy and sadness filling her chest. There was so much more to his story; she could feel it, something he wasn't ready to share.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur, but Katrina couldn't shake the feeling that there was more she needed to know about Daniel and the fiancée he'd lost. She had to understand the full story, even if she didn't know why it felt so important.
That afternoon, while taking a break at the small café across the street, she saw him again. But this time, he wasn't alone. He was talking to an older woman—someone she didn't recognise.
Katrina took a sip of her coffee, watching them from her seat by the window. The woman looked familiar as if she might be a local. Her expression was kind but serious as she spoke to Daniel, as though she knew him well. The conversation seemed personal, and Katrina's curiosity only deepened.
What were they talking about? And who was this woman?
As they parted ways, Katrina caught Daniel's glance from across the street. Their eyes met for just a brief moment, and then he turned, walking away in the direction of the cemetery.
Katrina couldn't shake the feeling that today was the beginning of something bigger, something she wasn't entirely ready for.