A Single Flower
By: Tohrushino
“Lori! Wake up!” As Lorena woke up to that faithful call, she glanced out the window.
“Aw, shucks, I overslept again, huh?” she groaned in embarrassment.
“Yup, fifth time this week alone. Want to know this entire year’s average?” teased Lori’s best friend, Joseph.
“I’d rather not, Joey,” Lori replied “Just give me some time, okay? You know I’m not a morning glory.” Eventually she got up, got dressed, and got out the door just in time to meet Joey at the bus stop. All normal. But if something weird happens every day, is that still “normal”? That one weird thing is Lori’s awkward stare at Joey’s white rose that always sits right in view of the window. (they pass Joey’s house on the bus ride) Lori loved flowers. She wanted to be a florist. And yet, she had never seen a white rose. Not even in books. She yearned to get a closer look. But little did she know the truth behind the beautiful white rose.
“Hey Lori, are you planning on doing anything this weekend?” When Joey said that, Lori’s stomach did a gymnastics routine.
“Um…not…that I know of…why?” Lori asked shyly.
“Well, I just remembered that I’ve been to your house, but you’ve never been to mine. Kind of unfair, huh?” When Joey said that, Lori almost fainted…minus the “almost”. “A chance to see the white rose!” thought Lori “I must be dreaming!”
The day came. Lori had admitted her love of flowers and her gazes at the flower.
“L-Lori…about the flower…” but before Joey could finish his sentence, Lori was at the windowsill, staring at the flower. Only it wasn’t.
The rose was made out of paper.
“L-Lori? Hey… are you alright?” Joey asked, putting his hand on her shoulder.
“I’m…fine. Just fine. Say, can you help me with my math?” Lori quickly changed the subject. She had learned from an expert that the kinds of flowers people like effects their personality. But she had never been told what a paper flower meant.
The hours went by steadily, and Lori left. Crying. It was a fake. Did that mean Joey was a fake too? She couldn’t bear the thought of it! Lori ran home as fast as she could. She buried her head in her pillow and cried.
The next morning Lori woke up early. She noticed her window has wide open, as well as the curtains. She glanced over to her nightstand to see what time it was, when there, right next to her lamp, was a vase! Guess what was in it:
A single white rose!
And the rose wasn’t alone. Taped to the vase was a note that said:
“Don’t worry, this one’s real”
