I found this orchid while wandering through the Botanic Gardens. The woman working there told me orchids symbolise beauty, courage, and strength—things that immediately reminded me of you.
You are stronger and braver than you realise. Beautiful both inside and out. You’ve endured the harshest conditions, and still, you bloom—gracefully, fiercely—just like this orchid.
I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I only hope you’ll give me the chance to earn it.
I’ll wait as long asit takes.
— Kaden.
A tear I hadn’t realised was building slips down my cheek, falling onto the small card in my hand.
Just when I thought he’d given up, he surprises me—speaking in a language he knows I understand all too well. Plant talk. He bought me this orchid knowing I’d never have the heart to throw it away. But what’s even more beautiful than the flower itself is the thought behind it. It’s intentional. It’s meaningful. It’s layered. It’s heart-warming.
I’m even more conflicted.
One part of me wants to call him, to talk, to hear his voice again. The other part, the more guarded side, wants to keep him at arm’s length, to protect myself from being hurt all over again.
And right now, that voice is ringing just a little louder.
As much as I want to be moved by this gift, I’m just not ready yet. I need more time. But he’s willing to wait… and for now, that’s more than enough.
Chapter 36
Hope
In the days that follow, more and more plants appear at my front door, each one different from the last, and each comes with a new, heartfelt note tucked inside. A total of six plants have now earned a place in my home, all which represent a different meaning:
This bamboo tree symbolises resilience. It bends in the fiercest winds but never breaks. It somehow made me think of you. You bend, but you never break. I’ve seen you stand strong, and resilient, despite everything you’re going through. I just hope I haven’t taken that light from you.
With patience and care, aloe vera can heal even the deepest wounds. When I saw this plant, I knew I had to get it for you. It’s my hope thatone day, I can be part of your healing, not the reason you need it.
Succulents can survive almost anything. They endure, refusing to give up. You’re just like that—stubborn in the best way. Determined. Unyielding. No matter how hard life tries to knock you down, you stand your ground. And that’s what I admire most about you.
I got you this fern because there’s something about it that feels hopeful to me. It represents sincerity, resilience, and growth, all the things I see in you. I wanted you to know that you have become my biggest inspiration. Whatever you choose going forward, I hope you continue growing exactly as you always have.
That one almost did it. I was nearly ready to pick up the phone and call him, to have him meet me somewhere we could talk. But something still held me back. Fear and doubt lingered. No longer as strong as before, but still there, quietly clinging.
That all changed by Friday. It was late in the afternoon when I was picking Zac up from my parents’ place after work. I hadn’t even crossed the threshold when he came running towards me, brimming with a kind of excitement I’d never seen before. My parents followed close behind, their smiles impossibly wide. When I asked what washappening, Zac practically squealed that he had won the competition—that his model house, the very one he had built with Kaden, had taken first place and was now proudly displayed at the school.
Nothing could have prepared me for the wave of emotions that crashed over me all at once. The excitement, pride, joy… and a deep, aching longing. I wanted nothing more than to share the good news with Kaden, to celebrate the moment with him, and one glance at Zac made it clear he felt the same.
I missed him terribly, and it was becoming harder and harder to ignore. He was in every corner of my life, woven through every daily reminder. No matter how hard I tried to push him away, he was everywhere.
It wasn’t until we got home that the decision truly cemented itself.
Another box waited on the porch. Inside sat a beautiful, healthy daffodil plant, a small white envelope tied to one of its elegant flowers. The moment I finished reading the final sentence, I knew it would be the last time he had to go to such lengths.
Hope,
I wanted to find a plant that represented new beginnings. There were so many to choose from, but the daffodil felt right—not just because it’s perfectly in season, or that yellow is your favourite colour, but because it represents a fresh start. Something I hope we can one dayhave… without any more secrets between us.
—Kaden.
P.S. There’s not a day that goes by that you’re not on my mind. I miss you, my friend.
It’s now one in the afternoon on a Saturday, almost two weeks since I last saw him. I’m sitting on my favourite bench outside—Kaden’s bench, all the plants he gifted me gathered around like a quiet little army, standing guard, offering comfort and a gentle kind of protection. The notes are set in a neat pile on my lap, my finger tracing the curves of his handwritten words.
My phone lies beside me, screen dark and quiet. In just a few minutes, I’ll hear his voice for the first time in days—weeks, and the anticipation coils tight in my chest.
