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It’s a s ht offcan melt off one’s sticky, sweat drenched frame, but I also don’t want to find out

True to her word, Shandra has the bouquet waiting for me in the quiet lunchroom It’s nearly four in the afternoon, so everyone is out working in the greenhouse I pull out a plastic chair and slide into the hard orange structure The bouquet is huge, e because those flowers aren’t so at the letter taped to the paper surrounding the blooile petals, leaves, and stems, I know it’s from Leandra

I can’t say I wasn’t crush after getting her text thishome to lick my wounds and wonder atbecause that at least I could fix Solve Whatever Sa I don’t want to fix Leandra I’ve never wanted that I’ve always been intrigued by her exactly as she is I’d never want to fix her in the future either That word shouldn’t be used with people It doesn’t work that way

I thought ere fine I had no idea if she wasthe appointment, but it seemed like it was a heck of a lot ht to her boutique and ask her what happened Make sure she was okay Try and talk to her again, but the ued that she either just needed tiht of panic, or she reallyto be any talking her down

I could have been

I wasn’t angry at Leandra trying to pish me away I think that’s a pretty natural instinct when soed or feels threatened or is scared, and everything that we’ve done in the past feeeks has been scary and new for both of us The coether of two cataclys mess first

I was hurt, though Hurt that it appeared that she didn’t trust ivecall or a face to face conversation Going straight to the whole let’s figure out a custody agree was like a heady dose of salt in so like a mother

I reach forward and sloork the tape free that’s connecting the sers tremble and my stomach does sick summersaults as I break the seal and pull out a white sheet of paper that’s been folded up e packed with tiny, neat handwriting

I can i Not a card Not a note A letter

Daniel,

It was suggested tothat’s in e that you started I’ a flower dictionary as a reference, soIf I have, or o, I hope you can forgive that and understand that I only have the best intentions behind this It’s fun And quirky And cool I think I ht want to communicate like this with you forever It feels like a secret language that only we’re sharing I knoas a real language, back in the day, but it feels like a lost art I love that it’s yet another thing we can share So that’s just ours

Anyway, so I didn’t have a dictionary to send, so I’ll do my best to explain the flowers I picked

Zinnia This is supposed to mean friendship that stands the test of time I hope that we can be friends, always, above all First and last and everything in between It’s an honor just to know you and I hope we can build the kind of relationship where we’re two crazy people who can always fall back on the strongest bonds there are The bonds of friends

Cornflowers and lilacs- These flowers sy to love, which I know is a big word, but I hope one day that we can get there Friends love The love of parents And eventually the love of lovers The dictionary said to pair this with lilacs, specifically for one’s first love, and I can confidently say that you’re already starting to be that for , because I still do believe in being cautious and taking our ti bonds that will last for a lifetime But that said, I want you to be ive ets to know all about the squishy places of me I’ve never opened to anyone else