The Flower That Wilted Away

  The heavy rain during the night drummed against the glass window accompanied by lightning. The

two children were only five years old stood in the doorway, scared in their poke-a-dot pajamas with tears in their eyes.

" Come in."

The children's eyes lit up as they heard Mother's soft tender voice and gave a very warm welcoming smile then made space for the children as they climbed in-between father and mother. In minutes, the two children were fast asleep they couldn't even stay awake throughout the entire story.

The woman closed the children's picture book and her eyes soften as she looked at the kids. She laid her head on the pillow and then her eyes met with her husband." Mister, what kind of flower am I to you?" She whispered.

  " You are the most beautiful flower that exists in this world."

This is the feeling that people must call love. She extended her arm and touched his cheek with her hands, throughout the years it was her first time confessing her affection towards him. She mustered up the courage as her heart fluttered.

" I love you."

" I been waiting for so long."

There were a rush of emotions as their lips touched.

9 years ago …

"How come she's not answering the phone? Man, she's supposed to pick me up an hour ago."  She complained and then dialed her best friend's number again and was sent directly to the automatic voicemail.

"I will give Hak Si Woo ten more minutes."

Kang Choon Hee is 20 years old and attending the top university in the medical field in four years she will graduate with her Ph.D. She wanted to make her parents proud and sacrifice her own dreams to become a doctor to help her family out of debt. She was diagnosed with heart disease symptoms caused by abnormal heartbeats at birth.

"How pretty." She kneels at the small flower blooming in the campus garden and smiles genuinely.

Suddenly, a thought came across her mind, and forgotten to message Han Gyeol that she will be late for their date. 

One snowy day, he approached her at the floral painting events, and from that moment the rest is history. The two bonded through plants and flowers then over time feelings developed.

They exchanged phone numbers and texted every single day. From that point, they ate lunch together, took long walks, attend gallery events, and even studied together.

However, there was one tiny problem neither of them has yet confessed.

"That strange! He's usually picked up perhaps he's still in class." She looked at her cellphone and then left him a text message. 

After twenty minutes passed, Kang Choon Hee decided to take public transportation to her apartment outside of campus.

When she unlocked the door the voice of a man and woman moaning from the backroom could be heard. It was her roommate/ best friend, Hak Si Woo, and her crush, Han Gyeol.

All the memories came shattered down with a broken picture frame and her heart ached so much. Just staying in the room was suffocating her and she ran out with tears rolling down her cheek.

A few years later…

Somewhere in the city.

" It looks nice out today." A woman glances out the window and the sun was beautifully blinding as she washed the counters waiting for customers in a stylish apron with ruffles on the shoulders.

Ginger-colored hair tied up in a high ponytail while her bangs fell perfectly on her forehead.

She pulled out all her savings from her account to rent this department store and quit her job as a server to start over.

A few days was the grand opening and not a single soul seem to notice the place. As more people continue to walk past

Ding A tiny bell ran

She lifted her head and smile widely at her first customer. She could barely hide her blush because he was so attractive, but she remembered to stay professional and gave herself a pep talk.

A very tall and handsome man in a plaid flannel, a traditional fitted red shirt with straight pants and seem to have an expensive taste by his shoes. 

She hesitated to speak when he walked toward her, and it felt like he was walking in slow motion. She could feel her chest racing as their eyes met for the first time.

"There are various types of flowers – If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask." She says nervously in a welcoming tone and smiles at the man. He's so fine 

He glances over at her for a second time She kind of looks like a flower-- Isn't she young to have her own department store?" He thought then continue to explore the different breeds. After a while, he finally approached her.

"Excuse me ma'am but do you have this kind of flower." He questioned and showed her an image from the search engine of his cell phone.

That phone looks like the latest expensive model.

How can people afford that? Is he rich? I wonder what kind of job he has?

" Well do you?" He asked.

She snapped out of her thoughts and then looked closely at the photo," Oh, those are the Galanthus nivalis! You are in luck these are the earlier of the spring-blooming bulbs."

The white flower with greenish inner petals. When grown in large masses, the combined fragrance is lovely. 

While about to start the transaction she notices a wedding band on his finger. Dammit! Why do I have such bad luck with men?

"Your wife will love these very much." She spoke.

He looked down at her name tag," Thank you, Kang Choon Hee I search everywhere but no other florist had them. I'm very grateful to have found you."

He opened his wallet and saw a small picture of his lovely wife then started to reminisce about the past. " Dam Bi calls them snowdrops flowers and I know that it may sound ridiculous but when you look up at the sky and watch the snowfall—It really does resemble them… I love her with my whole heart but she is giving the doctors a hard time by refusing treatment. "He sigh the looked out the window staring at the cherry blossom trees." She loves spring and watching the flowers bloom … it's so hard to watch her being hospitalized.

" Don't give up hope! She must be blessed to have such a caring and loving husband I hope that she nourishes to health and that this is just a minor setback. I wish for two of you to stay happy forever."

" Thank you for your kindness, Kang Choon Hee."