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22 December 2023
The flower shop was busy, but it wasn't a problem; Jesse wouldn't be off work for another hour. Ian stood in the food court, looking in. Behind the counter he could see Rebecca, smiling cheerfully and helping customers. She was wearing her hair down today, letting it cascade over her shoulders. More than once, he thought, he saw those beautiful gray eyes turn to him, if only for an instant. He approached the door, stopping at the window.
Behind her, on the shelf, he saw the white rose encased in glass. It was more pristine and exquisite than he had remembered, the light catching on the petals and reflecting within the glass. He wondered who would actually spend $200 on a flower for their girlfriend, but knowing that it would be worth every penny. The rose was a perfect specimen, and the glass would keep it that way forever. Maybe the man in the expensive tailored suit, eyiang the fresh roses in the case, would be the one to purchase it.
He wanted to find out more about her. What would he say? Ian guessed he could ask her about flowers. Apart from roses, he knew next to nothing about them. He wondered what her favorite kind was.
He wondered a lot of things about her: Favorite band? Favorite movie? Favorite color? What did she do when she wasn't at work? Did she have a boyfriend?
Ian wondered a lot of the same things about Jesse, once, but they were past that. He doubted there was anything left he didn't know about Jesse. When they had first started going out, he'd lay in his bed, imagining what she would be like once he got to know her. After a year, he had found out.
He watched Rebecca smile, say something to a middle-aged woman, and punch a few buttons on the register. She was so amazingly beautiful, and yet he knew absolutely nothing about her. Perhaps that was the reason.
The crowd inside the store had thinned out. Rebecca looked up directly at him, her gray eyes meeting his. She paused, then raised her hand and waved, the gesture subtle yet graceful, but unsure. Ian smiled at her, then walked away in the direction of the department stores. That would have to be enough.
Behind her, on the shelf, he saw the white rose encased in glass. It was more pristine and exquisite than he had remembered, the light catching on the petals and reflecting within the glass. He wondered who would actually spend $200 on a flower for their girlfriend, but knowing that it would be worth every penny. The rose was a perfect specimen, and the glass would keep it that way forever. Maybe the man in the expensive tailored suit, eyiang the fresh roses in the case, would be the one to purchase it.
He wanted to find out more about her. What would he say? Ian guessed he could ask her about flowers. Apart from roses, he knew next to nothing about them. He wondered what her favorite kind was.
He wondered a lot of things about her: Favorite band? Favorite movie? Favorite color? What did she do when she wasn't at work? Did she have a boyfriend?
Ian wondered a lot of the same things about Jesse, once, but they were past that. He doubted there was anything left he didn't know about Jesse. When they had first started going out, he'd lay in his bed, imagining what she would be like once he got to know her. After a year, he had found out.
He watched Rebecca smile, say something to a middle-aged woman, and punch a few buttons on the register. She was so amazingly beautiful, and yet he knew absolutely nothing about her. Perhaps that was the reason.
The crowd inside the store had thinned out. Rebecca looked up directly at him, her gray eyes meeting his. She paused, then raised her hand and waved, the gesture subtle yet graceful, but unsure. Ian smiled at her, then walked away in the direction of the department stores. That would have to be enough.
artid
134
Old Image
4_4_rose.swf
issue
vol 4 - issue 04 (dec 2001)
section
pen_think