The car comes to a complete stop, and my breath hitches. It can’t be? Can it?
She exits the car and swiftly comes around the front of her vehicle with purpose. When she sees me, she stops dead in her tracks.
Madison. Beautiful, sweet Madison. She’s back.
I can’t breathe. With my eyes locked on hers, a thousand words I’ve wanted to say are stuck in my throat:
Where have you been?
Don’t ever leave me again.
Tell me I could be your forever.
I love you.
But I don’t say anything. Instead, I stand there and stare at her like an idiot, thankful when she speaks first.
“I was reading somewhere that sunflowers follow the sun. Did you know that?”
I answer her with a slight nod.
She takes a few steps closer. “But did you know sunflowers face each other and share their energy when it’s cloudy and gray?”
I can tell her dark eyes are muddled with tears, her soft smile emitting caution. Or maybe it’s regret?
“I think that’s amazing, George. Imagine if humans could do this too. You know, share their energy when life gets cloudy and gray?” she says.
My voice is husky in my reply. “We do.” I take a guarded step toward her. “Are we the sunflowers in this metaphor, Madison? And yes, before you ask, I know what a metaphor is.”
Her syrupy eyes draw me in with her smile. “Something like that.”
We continue to stare at one another. I swear my heart is pounding so hard she can see my shirt moving with the rhythm.
“Why are you here, Madison?”
She shrugs, her movement causing tears to stream down her cheeks. “Sometimes you just need flowers.”
I’m hesitant, my body craving to hold her in my arms, but my mind flashes, warning me not to get too close.
Screw it.
We both close the gap between us, desperate to feel each other. Gosh, I’ve missed her so much. The reality of that sweeps through me as I kiss her deeply.
I can’t quite process this incredible moment. Just holding her in my arms leaves me vulnerable and bare.
But I don’t care.
“I’m so sorry,” she mumblesagainst my lips.
I say nothing, tucking my nose against her ear. I close my eyes and offer a quick prayer of thanks to the heavens.
“Are you okay? How’s Ralph?”
I pull back from her and melt when she strokes her fingers across my tear-soaked beard. I hadn’t realized I’d been crying too.
“Not good,” I croak.
She nods, pressing her lips together in a thin line. “Can I see him?”
