The mornings had become a little brighter, even when the skies were overcast. It was subtle, almost like the change in the season—still a bit cold, but with the promise of warmth. Katrina could feel it. A shift, a quiet energy that hummed between her and Daniel, though neither of them had fully acknowledged it.
Daniel still came in every morning, though now he seemed more alive, more present. He wasn't just buying flowers; he was chatting with her, asking how her day was going, and for the first time, he was sharing small, simple things—like the way, the bakery on the corner had started making fresh cinnamon rolls again, or how he'd begun walking a different route to the cemetery.
It wasn't much, but it was progress. He was coming out of the shell he'd built around himself. And she couldn't help but feel a little more drawn to him with every passing day.
One morning, as Katrina arranged a vibrant mix of roses, peonies, and daisies, Daniel walked in, looking different. His hair was a little tousled, and there was a glint of something brighter in his eyes—something she hadn't seen before.
"Morning," he said, his smile genuine.
"Good morning, Daniel!" Katrina replied, her heart skipping a beat. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so eager to see someone.
He looked at the flowers on the counter, his fingers lightly brushing against the petals. "You've been busy," he remarked with a soft chuckle. "They all look so beautiful."
She smiled. "I do try," she said, picking up a few stems of roses and gently trimming the ends. "It's a little more fun when I have someone to show them to."
His smile widened at the comment. "I think Emily would've loved these," he said, nodding toward the roses.
Katrina's smile faltered for just a second. She knew the roses were significant for Daniel—they were a part of his connection to his past. But there was something in his voice now, a gentleness, a recognition that felt different.
"I think she would have too," she said softly, feeling a knot in her chest. "But you don't have to keep living in the past, Daniel. Emily will always be with you, but there's space in your heart for new things too."
Daniel paused, and for a moment, the room was silent. The usual hesitance in his eyes was gone. Instead, there was something deeper—something that made Katrina's pulse quicken.
"I know," he said finally, his voice steady but with a hint of vulnerability. "I think I'm starting to understand that."
For the first time, Katrina didn't feel like she was speaking to the man weighed down by the ghost of his past. This was someone who was learning to step forward, to let go of the guilt and the grief that had held him back for so long.
She took a deep breath, gathering the courage to ask, "And how do you feel about that? About moving forward, I mean?"
Daniel met her gaze, his eyes searching hers for a moment before he answered. "I'm scared," he admitted quietly. "I'm not sure how to do it. But I think... I think I'm ready to try. And I think I want to try with you."
Katrina's heart raced. She hadn't expected that—at least not so soon. She had been careful to keep her own feelings in check, knowing how fragile the situation was. But hearing him say that... it was like a weight had been lifted from her chest.
"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Daniel nodded, stepping a little closer. "I'm sure. It's not about forgetting Emily. It's about finding a way to live again. And, Katrina..." He reached out, his hand brushing against hers, his touch warm and reassuring. "I think you might be a part of that."
Her breath caught, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say. But she knew one thing: he wasn't just talking about his grief anymore. He was talking about them.
"I want to be part of that," she replied, her voice trembling with the depth of her own feelings. She could feel her heart in her throat, and for the first time in so long, she felt alive, not just in the way she always had, but in a way that made her feel like she was part of something real.
The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable. It was full of possibilities.
Daniel squeezed her hand gently. "I think we can help each other," he said softly. "You've already helped me more than you know."
Katrina smiled, her eyes filled with emotion. "I think we've both been looking for something, without even knowing it."
For a long moment, they stood there, just looking at each other. There was so much unspoken between them, so much that neither of them was ready to say yet. But there was also a sense of quiet understanding—a bond that was beginning to form.
Finally, Daniel broke the silence with a small chuckle. "I think I'm going to start coming by more often. I'm not sure if it's the flowers or the company, but I like being here."
Katrina laughed, her heart light. "You're always welcome, Daniel."
As he turned to leave, she watched him walk out of the shop, feeling something new settle in her chest. This wasn't just about helping him move on from the past. It was about both of them moving forward together.
And for the first time in a long time, Katrina believed that maybe, just maybe, she had found something worth holding on to.