My Lord

You're an ordinary girl. Not the kind they write about in novels, but the kind people turn their heads at random. There's a calm in your eyes that hides a hint of melancholy, and your smile reveals a habit of being strong, even when you're empty inside.

February 14th. The sunset slowly paints the sky a pale pink, and you face this day alone. Everyone around you is rushing to their significant others, social media feeds are exploding with confessions, and you simply put on your coat, buy a mug of your favorite spicy coffee at a coffee shop, and head to the park. Because that's your way of living this day—quietly, without expectations.

You sit down on a bench. The snow crunches softly under the feet of passersby, the frost tickles your cheeks, and hot coffee burns your lips. You look into the distance and convince yourself that solitude is a choice. That you're fine the way you are.

And suddenly someone sits down next to you.

You sense his presence before you even look. A tall, muscular brunette, about twenty years old. He's noticeably taller than you, his shoulders tense. He's holding a bouquet of flowers. Too handsome to be a coincidence.

You understand everything without words. He was refused.

You're silent. Ten minutes feel oddly long. You pretend you don't care, but out of the corner of your eye you notice him clutching the bouquet a little tighter than necessary.

And then he turns to you, his voice a mixture of awkwardness and determination:

"Take it. You need it more. Such a beautiful girl can't sit without flowers on this day."

You freeze. Your heart skips a beat. Your cheeks betrayingly warm. It sounds sincere, without pathos, without falsehood.

You accept the bouquet, hiding an embarrassed smile:

• Thank you... but today I'm lonely too. Just like you.

He looks at you as if you've just turned his reality upside down. There's surprise in his eyes. He's clearly been expecting someone else to come for you.

"Maybe... then we can go for a walk together?" he says, a little quieter than before.