The next few days felt like a blur for Katrina. The shop was busy, the flowers were ordered, and the sun seemed to shine too brightly for her to concentrate. But no matter how many bouquets she arranged or customers she helped, Daniel and his story kept circling in her thoughts.
After their conversation about Emily, she couldn't help but wonder how someone could live in the shadow of grief for so long. He seemed like he was barely holding on, yet there was something in him—a spark of life—that made her believe he wasn't lost forever.
It wasn't until a few days later when she was arranging flowers by the window, that she saw the older woman again. She was standing on the sidewalk, looking up at the shop with a thoughtful expression. Katrina recognised her immediately from the brief interaction she witnessed before.
Curious, Katrina wiped her hands on her apron and stepped outside.
"Excuse me," she called, walking toward the woman. "I'm sorry to bother you, but... do you know Daniel?"
The woman turned and smiled politely. "Daniel?" she asked, her brow furrowing for a moment. "Ah, yes. He's a good boy. He's been struggling for a long time."
Katrina felt a wave of urgency. "I... I don't mean to pry, but I've seen him around, and he—he comes to my shop every day to buy flowers. White lilies. I think they're for someone he lost, and he seems... well, he seems very sad. I just wanted to know if you could tell me a little more about him."
The woman's eyes softened, and she looked around before stepping closer to Katrina. "I suppose I can tell you a little," she said quietly, glancing toward the cemetery on the hill. "I used to be a good friend of Emily's, Daniel's fiancée. I think you have a right to know a little bit of their story. After all, Daniel... he's been holding on to it for so long now."
Katrina nodded, heart pounding in her chest. She had no idea what the woman would tell her, but she needed to know.
The woman sighed as if the weight of the story she was about to share was heavier than she expected. "Emily was everything to Daniel," she began. "They grew up in the same neighbourhood. They were childhood sweethearts. Everyone thought they were perfect for each other."
Katrina listened intently, her mind racing with new questions.
"They got engaged when they were both twenty-five. They were planning a life together. Daniel was so excited, so full of plans for the future. But Emily... well, she wasn't as healthy as she seemed. She'd been sick for a while. A long time. She didn't want anyone to know. Not even Daniel. She didn't want him to worry."
Katrina swallowed hard, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to rise. She could imagine the heartbreak Daniel must have felt.
"She fought it for months," the woman continued. "But eventually, the illness took its toll. And Emily... she passed away in her sleep, just a few weeks before their wedding."
Katrina's breath caught in her throat. "That's so tragic," she whispered.
The woman nodded, a sad smile playing on her lips. "It broke Daniel. He's never been the same since. And even though it's been over a year, he still visits her grave every day, bringing her those lilies. It's like he's stuck, living in that moment with her."
"Do you think he'll ever be able to move on?" Katrina asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The woman's eyes grew distant as if she was remembering her own loss. "I hope so. But some people, like Daniel, carry their grief for a long time. They hold on to the past because they don't know how to let go. I think he's waiting for some kind of sign from Emily, hoping that somehow, she'll come back."
Katrina felt the heaviness in the air as the woman spoke, and it settled deep in her chest. She understood now—Daniel's daily ritual wasn't just about keeping a promise. It was his way of holding on to a love that was gone.
"Thank you," Katrina said softly. "For sharing that with me."
The woman nodded, her face softening with a gentle kindness. "Take care of him, dear. He needs someone. But be patient. It'll take time."
As the woman turned and walked away, Katrina watched her disappear into the distance. Her heart felt heavy with the weight of what she had learned. She could see it now—the depth of Daniel's pain, the ghosts that haunted him.
But she also saw something else: the chance to help him heal. Even if it was just a little.
Katrina stood there, thinking about what the woman had said. Could Daniel ever move forward from the loss of Emily? Or was he forever trapped in the past?
Katrina wasn't sure, but one thing was clear. She wasn't going to walk away from him. Not yet.