Jag hesitated. His heart felt heavy and light all at once. He didn't think she meant the words as he had, but they were bittersweet every way he spun them, anyway. And here she was, giving him more flowers. She was a giver, every time they met, and here he was, taking again.

"Are you sure?" he asked, raising his free hand to curve his fingers around hers, gently, loosely, as if about to slide up and take the flowers from her, but not quite there yet.