Chapter 3: Flowers

I had slept in fits of sleep throughout the night. My small room was no comfort to me. The twin sized bed was tucked into a corner between two windows on the connecting walls. The covers were a dark plaid and hid the dust I tracked into my room from when I was too tired to beat out the dust. The wooden dresser beside my bed led to the closet on the opposite end of the room. I ensured to keep my space clean, so I hardly had anything in here to distinguish it as my own. Though, I had photos littered over my dresser of friends and family.

Unable to sleep, I got up from my bed to get dressed. Hunger beat my gut, so I carefully crept downstairs to get some food before I left. I didn't know if my mother was asleep or awake, her door remained closed. I rooted through the fridge for something to eat and laced up my boots while feeding myself what was supposed to be supper the night before. I washed my dishes at the sink and dried them before leaving the house. I had time this morning, so I headed to a small field nearby.

The air was cold this morning and the dark skies were showing hints of red in the clouds, it would rain soon.

I walked into the grassy field and found what I had come looking for. I cannot easily express myself through words, so I hope my mother can accept my apology through a gift. I drew a pocket knife from my jacket and flick out the blade while kneeling next to a patch of wildflowers. My mother loves flowers, she had always wanted her own garden to tend to. I make a small bouquet and tie the flowers together with a daisy stem. I gazed down at the flowers quietly, they were of every shape, color, and size. They reminded me of my mother, a lovely wildflower.

I looked back to the patch of flowers once more, struck by a thought, I created several more little bouquets. Each was different and unique with the different combinations that I had created off of a whim.

I returned home while it was still dark. From the curio cabinet, I withdrew a green vase just the right size for the flowers I brought. I sought out a piece of paper and a pen from the kitchen drawers and scrawled an apology as neatly as I could.

'Sorry. -Jinn'

Unsatisfied with how little words I could write, I brought the note and vase to the kitchen table where she would see it. I set the vase in the center and put the note just before it. I examined my work with narrowed eyes before accepting my reality. If she couldn't forgive me, at least she could see the things she cherishes the most.

I left home with the extra bouquets and headed into town. Odis could catch up later.

-

Few people were awake in Burnsley this early in the morning. Mostly the people awake are the third shift miners who are heading home for the day until night falls once more. The street lights give off weak light in the distance near the mine. I followed the dirt roads that signaled the outside of town where the strays and poor families live. I stopped near every residence that wasn't fully inhabited with boys and set a bouquet of flowers on the railings to be discovered in the morning. I didn't mind who found it, the girls or the women of the household. I just hoped it could bring a smile to their faces and a moment to enjoy outside of things happening in the town.

I was walking home with an extra bouquet, unable to find another home to gift it to. As I followed the dirt road, I allowed myself to touch the silky petals. They were so delicate, I had been afraid to touch them earlier in fear of ruining them. I looked ahead on the road while letting the flowers be, before me was the local tailors' daughter, Irene Lawson. Her natural red hair was dark in this lighting. The thick waves were tied back in a ponytail. Her clover green eyes were also hidden from the light.

"Good morning, Jinn, " she greeted me politely when we met, pausing to set down a basket she had been carrying.

"Morning, Irene, " I nodded to her and paused out of courtesy.

She offered me a shy smile as she adjusted her skirt and jacket, "It's quite chilly this morning. Ma and Pa had me on an errand so early this morning. Brr. Anyhow, what are you up to?"

Irene rubbed her arms to ease away the chill while looking up at me expectantly. We were both the same age although I easily towered over her.

"I came out to make gifts. Would you like one? I have this one left, " I offered the bundle of flowers and carefully watched her expression blink into surprise.

"Are you sure?" her wide eyes flicked between meeting my eyes and looking to the flowers.

I smiled at her in amusement, "Yeah."

"Thank you, " she breathed while plucking the flowers from my hand with her slim fingers.

I nodded and drew a flower from the bouquet, "You're welcome, and here."

I took the daisy I had pulled from the others, she protested only slightly but her curiosity got the best of her. I delicately placed the daisy in Irene's hair and tucked some stray wisps behind her ear. She didn't meet my gaze after I stepped back, her face darkened to a pretty pink. I cleared my throat and glanced away as well, I had momentarily forgotten that she wasn't like Odis' sister, Charlotte.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that, " I stepped back again to go past her and hurry home when she caught my sleeve.

She still didn't meet my eye as she spoke, "No, it's okay. I like it, thank you."

She released me and picked up her basket. I nodded, still embarrassed about the ordeal.

"Yeah, see you around, Irene."

"See you, Jinn."