The flower shop was small and smelled like cut stems and cold water.
Sora arrived at seven to open up, her keys already in her hand as she walked down the quiet street toward the shuttered storefront.
The morning cold sat low over the city. Her breath fogged faintly in front of her.
There was a bunch of tulips sitting on the step outside the door.
She stopped.
Pink ones.
A few white mixed in between them.
The stems had been wrapped carefully in plain brown paper and tied with thin string.
There was no note attached. No name. No bag from another flower shop.
Just the tulips.
Left there quietly.
Sora stared at them for a few seconds before bending down and picking them up.
The paper was still cold from outside.
She unlocked the door and brought them in with her.
The little bell above the entrance gave its usual soft sound as she stepped inside.
The familiar smell of flowers and water settled around her immediately.
Clean, damp and comforting.
