The sun was bright. Too bright.
Glykós pulled her cap down as she stepped into Ashley’s flower shop, trying not to squint. The place was humid & smelled like hibiscus & eucalyptus, the kind of scent that usually calmed her down.
Not today.
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Ashley popped out from behind the counter with her usual bubbly squeal.
"Heyyy, surfer girl~!" she giggled. "You look like you just lost a board to a reef. What's up?"
Glykós offered a weak smile. "Just thought I’d come to make leis. My hands need to do something before my brain does too much, y’know?"
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Ashley pouted playfully, leaning forward with a fake gasp. "Ooooh nooo, she's thinking again••• Call the coast guard~!"
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They both laughed. Just enough to feel normal. They sat near the back window where the sunlight hit the petals just right. Glykós started stringing plumeria & gardenia in a soft yellow-pink pattern. She didn’t even realize what she was making until Ashley pointed it out.
"You always pick the colors he likes," she said, tying a knot. "Even when you're not trying to~"
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Glykós froze for half a second. Then smiled, like it didn’t mean anything. Apparently her brother likes the same colours Martin does. "Right. I knew that." Glykós whispered to herself. She remembered that the only crush Ashley knew about was the one on her brother, of all people.
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"Can I ask you something?" she said, fingers twitching with the thread. "Like, hypothetically?"
Ashley gasped again, dramatic as always. "Is this a girl talk moment~? I’m all ears~!"
Glykós rolled her eyes but smirked. "It’s about someone who’s like••• you know. Really kind. Deep down. & smart. & fun to be around. But also, like, has these days where he’s just••• completely somewhere else." Ashley blinked. Then nodded slowly. "Ahhh••• Like, his brain has moods, too?"
"Yea," Glykós said softly, picking up another flower. "Exactly like that."
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She wanted to say Martin.
She wanted to say he said we'd have dinner tonight.
He said he'd see me around. And now it's around, & he's not here.
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Instead, she said:
"It’s like••• I know it’s not me. But it still hurts like it is."
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Ashley’s voice was surprisingly gentle this time. Still girly, but less giggly. The kind of voice you use for flowers that are fragile. "Girl••• If that person told you what he deals with, then he’s already trying. You know?" Glykós nodded, not looking up. Ashley continued. "Sometimes their thoughts just pull them like a riptide~ It's not about you. It's just heavy up there. & they don’t want you to sink with them~"
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"•••Even if I’d swim for him?" Ashley smiled. "Then swim. But don’t drown. You feel me?"
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By the time the leis were done, Glykós felt lighter. Not fixed. But anchored. She looked at the yellow-pink lei in her lap & sighed. "Do you think it’s okay to still show up? Even if he doesn’t?" Ashley tilted her head, dreamily twirling a ribbon between her fingers. "If you feel like being there••• then be there! Sometimes that’s the only way they know someone still cares."
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The sky over Chef Charlie’s was bruised in orange & blue. Glykós sat by the counter. The savory waffles were still warm. The candle flickered like it wasn’t sure whether to burn out or keep going.
She checked her phone. No message yet. The text from three days ago, before her whole sleeping-on-his-shoulder situation, still sat pinned at the top of her chat.
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> "Sweet. 5 P.M. at Charlie’s. Those savoury waffles are to die for. I’ll be there for sure! Unless there’s a typhoon in the Sahara."
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She looked at the empty seat across from her. Then softly, to no one:
"It's OK. I brought a raincoat."
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and then Add to home screen.