Black Petals

CHAPTER 15: THE CITY

VESPER'S POV

February 26th.

6:00PM.

Elias came.

He didn’t sit.

He stood.

“I have to go,” he said.

“Where?”

“The city.”

“For how long?”

“Three days.”

My chest dropped.

“Why?”

“Board meeting,” he said. “Whitestone.”

“You said no more Whitestone.”

“I said no more Lila,” he said. “This is business.”

“What business?”

“Mine.”

I stood up.

“No.”

“Vesper—”

“No,” I said again. “You said you’d stay.”

“I am staying,” he said. “For you. I’ll come back.”

“When?”

“Three days.”

“That’s forever.”

“I know,” he said. “But I have to go.”

February 27th.

He left at 7AM.

No kiss.

No goodbye.

Just a note on the counter.

`6 PM. Even when I’m gone.`

`- E`

I stared at it until 6PM.

At 6:00PM, I sat on the cot.

Alone.

The shop was too quiet.

February 28th.

Day 1.

I opened at 9AM.

Sold nothing.

At 6:00PM, I sat again.

I talked to the roses.

“You’re alive,” I said. “He’ll be back.”

The roses didn’t answer.

March 1st.

Day 2.

Maren came at noon.

“You look like shit.”

“Thanks.”

“Has he called?”

“No.”

“Texted?”

“No.”

“Then he’s an i***t,” she said.

“I know.”

At 6:00PM, I waited.

He didn’t come.

Obviously.

But I still waited.

March 2nd.

Day 3.

The last day.

I couldn’t work.

I sat by the window.

Watching the road.

At 5:30PM, I saw headlights.

Not his.

At 6:00PM, no one came.

At 7PM, no one came.

At 8PM, I locked the shop.

He wasn’t coming.

March 3rd.

Day 4.

He was supposed to be back yesterday.

He wasn’t.

At 9AM, my phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

`Vesper. It’s Elias.`

My hands shook.

`Board won’t let me leave. I’m sorry.`

`When?`

`I don’t know.`

`Okay.`

`Vesper—`

`Okay.`

I put the phone down.

March 4th.

Day 5.

I didn’t open.

I sat in the greenhouse.

With the 400 seeds.

“They lied,” I said. “He lied.”

The seeds didn’t answer.

March 5th.

Day 6.

Maren dragged me out.

“Eat,” she said.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Then sleep.”

“I can’t.”

“Because of him?”

“Yes.”

“Then hate him,” she said. “But live.”

I didn’t.

March 6th.

Day 7.

One week.

At 6:00PM, I sat on the step.

Like day twelve.

Like always.

Alone.

My phone buzzed.

`I’m trying.`

`Try harder.`

I turned it off.

March 7th.

Day 8.

I sold three roses.

$120.

I didn’t put it in the jar.

I threw it on the floor.

March 8th.

Day 9.

I dreamed of him.

In a suit.

In a room.

With white walls.

He didn’t look at me.

I woke up crying.

March 9th.

Day 10.

Maren said, “You have to go.”

“Where?”

“The city.”

“No.”

“Yes,” she said. “Or you’ll rot here.”

I didn’t answer.

March 10th.

Day 11.

At 6:00PM, I made a decision.

I packed a bag.

Black clothes. Shears. Seeds.

$200.

I left a note.

`Gone to the city.`

`- V`

I closed the shop.

March 11th.

Day 12.

I took the bus.

4 hours.

White buildings. White noise.

I hated it.

At 6:00PM, I stood outside Whitestone Tower.

Glass. Steel. Cold.

I walked in.

“Miss Ashvale,” the receptionist said. “Do you have an appointment?”

“No.”

“You can’t—”

“I can,” I said.

I went to the 40th floor.

His office.

He was there.

In a suit.

On the phone.

He looked up.

“Vesper.”

He hung up.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came for you.”

“Vesper—”

“You said three days,” I said. “It’s been twelve.”

“I know,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

“Then come home.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because if I leave now, I lose everything.”

“Then lose it,” I said.

He stared at me.

“Vesper.”

“No,” I said. “You chose the city. Not me.”

“I didn’t.”

“You did,” I said. “Goodbye, Elias.”

I turned.

“Vesper, wait.”

I didn’t.

March 12th.

I took the bus back.

Alone.

At 6:00PM, I opened the shop.

The roses were fine.

I wasn’t.

March 13th.

Day 14.

Two weeks.

No Elias.

No text.

No call.

At 6:00PM, I sat on the cot.

Empty.

March 14th.

Maren said, “He’s coming.”

“How do you know?”

“Because he called me.”

“What did he say?”

“That he’s an idiot.”

“Good.”

March 15th.

Day 16.

At 5:58PM, the bell rang.

Elias.

He looked different.

Tired.

Thinner.

“Hi,” he said.

I didn’t answer.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“Too late.”

“I know,” he said. “But I’m here now.”

“Why?”

“Because I quit.”

“What?”

“Whitestone,” he said. “I resigned.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not,” he said. “I chose you.”

I stared.

“Prove it.”

He sat on the floor.

At my feet.

“I’m not leaving,” he said. “Ever again.”

March 16th.

Day 17.

He stayed.

At 6:00PM.

Like always.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know.”

“Can I?”

He held out his hand.

I didn’t take it.

Not yet.

March 17th.

Day 18.

He came.

Hand out.

I took it.

“Thank you,” he said.

“For what?”

“For coming back.”

March 18th.

Day 19.

We worked.

In silence.

But it was okay.

March 19th.

Day 20.

He said, “Vesper.”

“Yes.”

“I love you.”

“I know.”

“I’m not leaving again.”

“I know.”

March 20th.

Day 21.

Three weeks.

He was home.

For real.

At 6:00PM, he kissed me.

Forehead. Nose. Lips.

“I’m here,” he said.

“I know,” I said.

The city took him.

But I brought him back.

*END OF CHAPTER 15*