4 Grave

I closed up shop early and wore all black, I collected a bouquet of lilies and left home. I took a quiet stroll around town. Nobody would approach me, nobody ever dared. I walked and walked, my thoughts lost to the world as my feet dragged me to my parents' graves. I just sat there next to them, talked to them about nothing and everything. "I miss you," angry tears filled my eyes as I curled up on myself, arms wrapped around my torso.

"A princess, such as yourself, shouldn't cry." I looked up at Mikey who stared down at me with a small smile and three roses. He laid one on each grave then handed the last to me. "Every princess deserves a rose." Mikey crouched down and pulled me into a hug, I didn't resist. I cried into his shoulder and he just held me, he didn't say a word.

After that his talks were no longer one sided. I actively participated in the conversations. We spent time together out of the shop and I...I enjoyed myself. For the first time in years, I found myself smiling and laughing, I found myself opening up to people. I made so many new friends it was hard to believe I was afraid of letting people in. Then it happened. Mikey, in all his confidence, strolled into the shop and bought a rose. "I have been wanting to ask you something." He took my hand and guided me out from behind the counter.

"Yes?" Mikey looked away, a nervous flush crossed my cheeks. "Mike, you're scaring me." He looked me square in the eye when I said his nickname, a confident smirk crossing his face.

"Why?" He took a step forward. I took one back, my bottom hitting the counter. "Afraid I might leave you?" His mocha colored eyes glint with mischief. No, I wasn't afraid of that, now; however, I am. "It's nothing like that so don't you worry, princess." He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, his knuckles caressed my cheek. "We never really talked about this. I always assumed we both knew, but that's not good enough for me now." My heart fluttered in my chest like butterflies begging to escape. "Let's go on a date."