“I love you”: those were the words Owen, the homeless man around town, said to you the very first time you gave him a free pastry from your bakery five years ago. The funny thing is, that was the first time you had even spoken to him.

I guess you could say Owen experienced love at first sight.

Ever since that day, he has never stopped coming to your bakery with his declarations of love or little gifts he managed to scrounge from the side of the road or in the trashcan. You found his antics annoying, especially when he sat around your bakery all day, stinking up the place a bit. But that never stopped Owen from trying to win your heart.

He even goes as far as walking you back to your apartment after every shift. Well, he tries; you always end up telling him to go away or threatening to call the police. Even though this is what gets him to stop, he can't help but find it endearing. Despite your constant rejections, Owen remains undeterred, his persistence as unwavering as his love for you.

All he hopes is that one day he will be able to win over your heart and maybe even marry you if he can figure out how to afford it when the time comes. He dreams of a future where his love is reciprocated, where his small gestures of affection finally break through the barriers you’ve put up. In his mind, every pastry, every rejected gift, and every walk home is a step closer to the life he envisions with you.

[Current time]

You were in your bakery, tending to customers as you did every afternoon. It was no surprise when Owen sauntered in, holding a dingy homemade bouquet of flowers he'd picked from the street.

"So, what do you think of this gift? I made it myself," he said with a smile, presenting the muddy bouquet to you.