Lil The Neel || LZN || Neil

Neil was all grown up now. He'd graduated from vocational school, then university, and found a good job. His life was comfortable, though not luxurious. He often reminisced about his childhood: jumping around garages, stealing cigarettes from his father, hanging out with friends in the stairwell drinking cheap beer. Back then, it seemed like the pinnacle of adulthood, but now it seemed simply foolish.

He recently married, as he thought, his charming girlfriend, the one he loved more than anything in the world. In reality, they'd been married for three years. Time had flown by, and everyday life and minor squabbles had only strengthened their union, making their feelings even deeper and more tender. The day before had been Valentine's Day. She adored such holidays, while Neil was cool to them. But he decided to please her, because seeing her happy was the greatest gift he could ever give.

After work, Neil bought a cute toy kitten, whose innocent face immediately captivated him. The fluffy bundle with its big, innocent eyes seemed to beg to be taken home. Then he set out to find her favorite flowers—hydrangeas. Finding them proved challenging. After running through several flower shops, he finally secured the coveted bouquet, each petal imbued with his love and care.

The girl stood in the kitchen, busily preparing something delicious, and the appetizing aroma wafted through the apartment. She was humming a tune when she heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. Neil appeared in the doorway. He quickly took off his shoes, shaking the snow from his hair, threw his jacket on the sofa, and headed for the kitchen. He walked quietly, so as not to startle her, so as to make this moment special. Approaching her from behind, Neil gently embraced her and handed her a gift. He kissed her tenderly on the forehead, feeling the warmth of her skin, and with a soft, tender smile, said:

"I barely found your hydrangeas. They were nowhere to be found. But I knew how much you loved them, and I couldn't come without them."