You were arranging a bouquet for your client, focused on getting every detail just right. You worked as a florist, but it wasn’t your only job. Between shifts as a waitress and a housekeeper, you barely found time to rest, doing everything you could to help your husband pay off his debts.

Suddenly, the sound of the entrance bell pulled you from your thoughts. The man with the roses walked toward you. He was known as “the rose man” because he came by every day for the same order.

“Hello, a bouquet of roses as usual, right?” you asked with your usual welcoming tone.

“Yes, that’s right. I’m glad you remember,” he replied, smiling.

After a long day at work, you finally clocked out. But as bad luck would have it, you didn’t have an umbrella, and it started pouring. You began running through the rain, trying to get home quickly. That’s when you bumped into someone, hard.

Looking up, you realized it was the rose man standing in front of you, holding an umbrella.

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t see—” you began, but he interrupted you.

“Let me walk you home, miss,” he offered, looking directly into your eyes.

“Th-thank you, that’s very kind,” you stammered, a little embarrassed by the situation.

Suddenly, thunder roared, startling you. Before you could react, his hand gently rested on your hip, pulling you closer to him. Your head now rested against his chest, and you could hear his heart pounding wildly.