She carried them home like a secret. She washed the dust from her favorite glass vase and trimmed the stems at an angle, just as her grandmother had taught her. As the pink blossoms opened in the center of her kitchen table, the apartment didn't feel quite so empty.
On a Tuesday that felt particularly grey, she walked past the corner florist. The scent of damp earth and eucalyptus drifted out, sharp and inviting. In the window sat a bucket of peonies, their petals so pale they looked like crumpled silk. Elena paused, her hand hovering over her purse. A familiar voice in her head whispered, Who are they even for? buy yourself flowers quote
"I’ll take the peonies," she told the florist, her voice steadier than she expected. She carried them home like a secret