Another day another sunrise. The sunrise that used to taunt him everyday feels a bit warmer today, the chirpy radio guy greeting everyone good morning felt less annonying this time. As john woke up in his apartment away from his home, Central City did'nt feel so alien today. The room isn't much better than his bestfriend's just some boxes less and a lot more drab, he spent most of his money on his mother's treatment so paying rent was a unnecessary but necessary trouble. He thought of sharing a room with Adrian but this one was a lot closer to the hospital.
But that's not so much of an issue now , his mother will be cured soon so he doesn't need to pay expensive hospital bills , just enough to keep her stable till she is cured by the church. Today he can get the expensive bouqet, one with chrisanthamams, just like his mother likes. He stands in front of the shop for a second and walks in. Its a bit cramped , vines growing from the ceiling, pots scattered around containing various plants, a corner of pots filled with soil ready to be planted and flower beds everywhere. The only semblence of order in the shop was the shelf of bouqets all neatly picked and sorted according to size.
Suddenly he hears shuffling from the back of the shop, a voice reaches out.
"Sorry i was a bit preoccupied, i lose track of time talking to these kiddos. How can i help you sir??" A young girl walks with a dirty apron and white gloves, her hair tied up but her smile was not a let down. Sunflowers would look to her even in the morning. Even John was caught up by her presence and lost his thoughts for a sec.
"Uhh yes, I would like to buy some Crysanthamums , i saw some outside and they look great."
"Crysanthamums , excellent choice. I have some pots in the back would you like pick some or do you want my recommendation?"
"Well im pretty much clueless to this stuff so I'd have what you'd recommend."
"Great follow me", she ushered him through the maze of pots and fertilizer packs, she giggled every time a leaf touched her and she pet every plant she walked by. john just walked behind her, part of him wondered why she is doing .. . whatever she is doing.
"Did you know Crysies represent joy in Hinduism and the Greeks used them as protection against evil spirits in graveyards. Makes you wonder of it's poisionous nature , maybe it was made so to prevent animals from consuming it and being saved , only to help humans."
"That sounds nice." John a bit confused.
"Oh don't worry, these specoes are safe for all, the poisionous ones require proper natural environment of the woods, these i grew in my backyard." she continued to walk.
"Here, i had this bouquet made a few hours ago. Feels nice??" She handed him one trying to gauge his reaction.
"They look small and round." ...
"And??"
"They feel fresh??"
"What about their colour?, the vibrant feel, those bright hues that straight attack your eyes like an explosion of fireworks."
"The colour? huh, guess i didn't notice". John saw the colours but never really felt them, he walked through a world while barely looking up from the grey concrete roads so his colour sense was a bit wack.
He chuckles as the last time he remembers colours was the brown tinge of the old lights at the cafe. He hasn't talked to her since -- since mother got critical.
"You picked these , im sure my mom would love the flowers and their colours." John started walking back to the counter to pay and leave.
"What about you sir? Do you like the colours?"
"They look great." John did'nt turn back, he looked down at the bouqet and didn't see anything special. But he knew saying that would make another flower bloom.
"They're 15.99 right?? Thats what this tag says."
"Ah yes, i'll get to the counter just one mome--" she staggered through her garden trying to tend to her customer when suddenly he lifted his hand with money in his palm.
"No worries, I'll leave it on the counter. You enjoy playing with them". John walks off, he also left a very hefty tip for her, well he wasn't in dire need of money now.
Standing outside he saw the store again , in the brihgt yellow sunlight he noticed, it is pretty colourfull, her signs on the window.
The walk to te hospital was the same, but today it feels different, the smiles on people's faces didn't seem pricky, the cars going by seem slower as if driving happily, the hot dog guy serving his budget crap like it was the best food a human could ever have, the kids running late to school but their laughter didn't vain. The sun's light felt a bt more yellow today. Maybe its just him, maybe finally he is ready, ready to see the world as is, ready to let go of his burden, to face his mother with a smile.
This time he didnt pause. He walked straight into his mother room, with a boquet and a smile. The nurse had opened the windows to let some fresh air in, his mother surprisingly was also awake, her skin a bit weary but her beauty had barely faded. Her face when she saw him was half joy half sorrow, as it always was, deep down she knew she was on borrowed time, yet she still put on a brave face, to smile so her son would'nt worry, at least not for the few minutes she is awake. John knew that.
"There's my beautiful boy and wow you got me flowers."
John also knew now, he could change that, he wanted his mother to smile like before.
"Yeah i got your faviourtes. They were freshly picked. Only the best from the florsit for the best of mums".
"Aww sweetie you shouldn't have".
"Listen mum, i have some great news. I think they finally know what you have and how to cure it".
"What , really?"His mother was shocked to say the least.
"Yeah, i talked to Adrian, he's working at Star LAbs now. He said a new cure is just around the corner".
But she doesn't need to know it all. He wants to protect this little peace he has.