The days following their conversation felt different. Daniel was quieter, more reflective, but Katrina noticed something new—something subtle, but there nonetheless. He wasn't as distant when he walked into the shop, and for the first time, he didn't immediately ask for the white lilies.
Katrina was arranging some daffodils by the window when he walked in that morning. He didn't seem like the man who had once come in every day with an almost robotic routine. There was a softness in his eyes, and his shoulders didn't seem as heavy.
"Morning," he said, his voice warmer than it had been in weeks.
"Morning, Daniel," Katrina replied, smiling as she placed the daffodils on the counter. "How are you today?"
He paused, looking at her for a long moment before answering. "Better," he said quietly. "I've been thinking a lot... about what you said."
Katrina's heart fluttered at the words. She didn't know if she had expected him to take her advice to heart, but hearing it made something inside her stir.
"I'm glad," she said, keeping her voice steady. "It's not easy. But I'm proud of you for even considering it."
Daniel shifted on his feet, clearly uncomfortable, but there was a determination in his gaze. "I think... I think I'm ready to try. To let go of some of the past. I'm still not sure what that means, but I don't want to keep living in the shadow of her loss."
Katrina felt a lump in her throat. This wasn't just a man saying he was ready to move on—this was someone beginning to see that life could still hold meaning beyond his grief.
She reached for a bouquet of lilies—this time, the soft pink variety, not the white ones. "You know, Emily's memory doesn't have to fade away completely. You can keep her close to your heart, but it's okay to let go of the daily ritual. Maybe... maybe a different flower would be a way to honor her while also permitting yourself to heal."
Daniel looked at the lilies in her hand, then back at her. For the first time, a small, genuine smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "I like that idea," he said softly. "Pink lilies... they were her favourite colour."
Katrina's heart warmed. She handed him the bouquet, careful to tie the stems together with a ribbon.
"I think she would've liked that," Katrina said quietly.
He took the bouquet from her hands, his fingers lingering on hers for a brief second. There was something there, something unspoken, but it felt different now—like a connection between them that was starting to grow.
"Thank you," Daniel said, his voice quiet but sincere. "I... I don't know how to explain it, but I think I'm ready to move forward. I'll never forget her, but I want to start living again."
Katrina nodded, smiling at him as she placed the flowers in his hands. "One step at a time."
Daniel gave a slight nod and turned to leave. But just before he reached the door, he paused, his back still to her.
"I don't know if I can ever really move on, but..." He turned slowly to face her, his gaze soft. "I'm starting to think that maybe I don't have to do it alone."
Katrina's breath caught in her throat. She wasn't sure if he meant it the way she thought, but there was something in his eyes that made her believe he wasn't just talking about his grief. He was talking about her.
Before she could respond, Daniel walked out of the shop, the pink lilies in his hands, and for the first time, she felt a sense of hope for him. And maybe even for herself.
As the day went on, Katrina found herself lost in thought. She'd helped Daniel take the first step in letting go of the past, but what did that mean for them? She didn't want to get ahead of herself. She wasn't sure if he even saw her the way she was beginning to see him. But there was something in the air, something between them that made her heart flutter with possibility.
The next few days passed, and Daniel continued to visit every morning, but this time, he seemed lighter. He still brought the flowers, but there was something different in the way he walked into the shop—something that told Katrina he was no longer trapped in the grief that had once consumed him.
And with each visit, something else was beginning to grow between them.
Katrina didn't know what it would become, but for the first time in a long while, she was willing to let herself hope.