Between Petals and Memories

the change in the season-still a bit cold, but with the promise of warmth. Katrina could feel it. A shi

ting with her, asking how her day was going, and for the first time, he was sharing small, simple things-like the way, the ba

the shell he'd built around himself. And she couldn't help

, Daniel walked in, looking different. His hair was a little tousled, and the

e said, his

art skipping a beat. She couldn't remember the

tly brushing against the petals. "You've been busy," he r

tems of roses and gently trimming the ends. "It's a

I think Emily would've loved these,

ant for Daniel-they were a part of his connection to his past. But there was

est. "But you don't have to keep living in the past, Daniel. Emily will

e usual hesitance in his eyes was gone. Instead, somethi

ady but with a hint of vulnerability. "I

ed down by the ghost of his past. This was someone who was learning to step fo

ourage to ask, "And how do you feel abo

ered. "I'm scared," he admitted quietly. "I'm not sure how to do it. But

en careful to keep her feelings in check, knowing how fragile the situation was.

e asked, her voice

t's about finding a way to live again. And, Katrina..." He reached out, his hand brush

hat to say. But she knew one thing: he wasn't just tal

e could feel her heart in her throat, and for the first time in so long, she felt alive, not jus

wasn't uncomfortable. It

e can help each other," he said softly. "Yo

otion. "I think we've both been looking

uch unspoken between them, so much that neither of them was ready to say yet. B

think I'm going to start coming by more often. I'm not sure

eart light. "You're al

omething new settle in her chest. This wasn't just about helping him m

trina believed that maybe, just maybe, sh