Linda

This story was originally posted to Readwave.

I took a deep breath, steeled myself, and knocked on the door.

The waiting was the worst. Standing. Hand sweating against the cellophane wrapped around the flowers. Waiting.

The florist told me that the breed lived about two weeks in water, but I didn’t care.

I wanted them for their soft blue petals. The colour of Linda’s eyes.

Oh Linda. I’d heard some call her plain, but that was nonsense. She was a ten. A perfect ten.

I could spend hours watching her. Or days. Weeks. Maybe even longer, if she’d let me.

Finally, she opened the door, more beautiful than I could stand.

“Hello?”

I introduced myself. Charlie. I see you in the shop.

“How can I help you?” she asked.

Do you want to have dinner?

“I… can’t. Sorry.”

I crumpled the cellophane around the flowers. Felt the handle of the knife.

“I won’t go!”

But she did.