I love starting work early. The grey, quiet dawn pulls around me as I walk down the street.

The shop is always so beautifully still, I can almost hear the flowers speak to me.

I always dispose of the older flowers first. It’s a sad job, but I like to know they have been mulched and donated to local gardens for compost. Then I receive my orders of fresh flowers and spend my morning organizing bouquets and arrangements.

This used to just be a hobby until Mom and Dad died. Now I work each flower arrangement with a desperate calm.

Like if I bring order to these flowers, I can somehow bring order to my life. If I see beauty, beauty will know me.

Since my parents’ death, nothing seems to really affect me anymore.

I did my crying and screaming. I told the world it wasn’t fair. It didn’t care.

While in my shop, I have some sense of peace. At home, in the big empty apartment, there’s only silence and my own whispering thoughts.

It’s almost 8 a.m. so I open my doors. Just up the street, I see that guy Andy who lives in The Bradford.

I think he’s friends with Evan, who has been going out with my friend Emilia…well, kind of going out.

I linger by the door, fussing with some small, dried flower arrangements. Andy runs his hand through his hair, eyes focused on a newspaper. His black hair curls around his neck and the line of his collar.

He’s wearing grey slacks and a white business shirt that’s open at the neck.

His pale green eyes flick up from the paper and look right at me. I freeze. We’re only about ten feet apart, him on the street near the trash can, and me safe behind my window glass.

It’s like the world falls away, and the silence that usually rings in my ears takes over the noise of the busy street.

It’s as if Andy and I are the only two people on earth.

I feel a sweet tingle between my legs, and I start blushing furiously, looking back down at my flowers. I used to be a party girl, but not anymore.

I can’t disturb the silence inside my mind too much. I can’t connect with people. I just think they can’t possibly understand what I’ve been through.

I want the kind of love that makes me feel secure. Like I can trust the world. Like I can let myself be happy.

I can feel hot tears brimming in my eyes. I look away quickly, trying to distract myself. Andy isn’t at the edge of the street anymore.

He’s walking towards me.

I pause in the doorway, a smile springing on my lips. I wish I was wearing something a bit sexier—not just a floral t-shirt dress and comfy flats.

My heart is hammering as he approaches.

I don’t really know why I feel this way toward him, but…there’s something about Andy that’s familiar.

Even if he’s a hot, crackling flame, and I’m a still, quiet pond, I sense something of the same urgency in him.

For all his efforts, I feel that, like me, he just wants to be loved.

That he needs security and comfort he thinks the world can’t provide.

He stops at the door and gives me a grin.

“Morning, Minette. How’re the flowers?”

“Floral,” I say with a giggle. “What are you up to today?”

“Got places to go. I’ll see you around, though, yeah?”

“Hope so, yeah.”

I watch him walk away, striding down the street. His tight ass looks amazing in his snug pants. He walks with quick, snappy strides, daring anyone to get in his way.

Why would a gorgeous, intense, driven guy like him ever look at a girl like me? Plain brown hair, boring blue eyes. Works ten hours in her flower shop, then scuttles home again.

I don’t know anything about art. I’m not outgoing. I don’t engage in lively conversation.

At least, not anymore. Since the accident, I just find all that too difficult.

No doubt he has some intense and deep kind of girlfriend. Who has piercings and tattoos and makes art out of wire. Someone as interesting as him.

I’m still feeling down when my phone rings. I pull it out of my pocket. It’s Emilia.

“Hey, Emmy.”

“Hey, Min. How are you?”

“Good.” A smile spreads across my lips. “What’s up?”

“There’s a party upstairs tonight. I want you to come.”

I suppress a long sigh. “I really don’t know. Will there be many people?”

“Andy will be there. Well, I think Evan is inviting him. I don’t know. I need to talk to you about it. It’s all going to fucking hell.”

“Can’t we just share some wine at my place and talk? It will be nice and quiet—”

“Fuck’s sake, Minnie! You need to fucking get out! I’m seriously starting to worry about you. Have you gone out at all in the last few months?”

“Well, we went shopping. There were those times we went to the movies…”

“Minnie, that doesn’t count. I mean out, out. Wearing something sexy. Feeling alive. You know?”

“Maybe.” I’m thinking about Andy. He could make me feel alive.

“Well, I’m going to be at your place this afternoon. We are going to fucking get ready and go to this party. You need it, and I really fucking need it.”

I sigh deeply. There’s no stopping Emmy when she’s on a run like this. I’m starting to think I don’t mind.

Andy could be there. I might get a chance to say more than a couple of words to him.

And Emilia’s right. I do need to get out.

“Are you sure Andy’s going?” I can’t believe I’m asking this.

Already, I’m thinking of what I want to wear and exactly how I’m going to pounce on him.

“I’ll find out for sure. Just be ready, okay, Minnie?”

“Yeah, Em. I’ll be ready.”

She hangs up, and I slip my phone back into my pocket. Already, I feel kind of fluttery and weird at the idea of being so close to Andy.

I haven’t been confident in my own shoes for a while. It’s time to fix that.

Would he even look at a simple little mouse like me? He needs someone with fire, the same flame in his own heart.

I start a new flower arrangement, focusing completely on the soft, vibrant petals. This, I can control. This, I can make beautiful.

I try not to think about tonight, but I can’t stop thinking about Andy.