Chapter One - by any other name.

Syed stared at the colourful array of flowers before him. Large beautiful bouquets of fragrent plants filled the florists. Finally his eyes came to settle on a bunch of blood red roses, he picked them up and held them to his nose. They smelled wonderful. After a moment he set them down. He couldn't get her roses. They were a symbol of devotion, passion and ultimately love. All the things that were missing from his marriage. He glanced around and selected a bunch of daisies instead,
they would do.

He paid quickly, declining the offer of special wrapping, and left the shop.

The flowers dangling at his side, Syed walked slowly down the pavement, mulling over his situation. The flowers were for Amira, a token of apology after yet another argument. Their rows lacked the fire that people who were actually in love's had but the bitterness and resentment made up for it. He couldn't even remember what they were fighting over specifically this time, Amira mae him snappy and withdrawn on a constant basis, purely because she wasn't him.
It wasn't her fault he knew, but he couldn't make himself feel anything for her apart from guilt.

Syed kept his eyes to the ground reflecting on his misery, he didn't notice christian emerging from his flat until he had called out to him across the street.

'Sy.'

Christian mentally kicked himself for using his pet name as he closed the distance between them, he'd forgotten just how ba things were these days. He longed to reach out and touch Syed, look into his eyes and see love reflected back.
But he daren't just incase it wasn't there anymore.

'Hi Chistian.' Syed said, his voice significantly less cheerful than he'd hoped.

'What have you got there?' Christian asked his eyes drawn to the flowers.

Syed held them up and explained that they were for Amira.

Christian paused for a second then looked Syed in the eyes.

'you should have got here roses' he remarked casually, but there was a degree of challenge in his voice.

Silence passed between them.

'look, i've got to be getting back...' Syed said quietly and turned to walk away.

'haven't you always.' Christian spoke darkly to his back.

Syed turned back to face him, anger in his eyes, anger mixed with sadness.

'What else can i do Christian? What else is there to say?'

'None of this is my fault Syed' Christian retorted 'This is the life you wanted so badly, the life you chose. Why aren't you happy?'

Syed opened his mouth to speak, tears begining to form in his deep brown eyes.

'No Syed!' Christian cut him off, tears forming in his own. 'I'm sick of you feeling sorry for yourself,
you took exactly what you wanted from me and then you were too much of a coward to face up to what you'd done!'

'It's not like that!' Syed shouted, not caring about the staring passers by.

'All you do is lie Syed! You lied to those around you and you lied to me!'

Syed looked confused

'when did i lie to you?' he whispered.

Christian laughed merthlessly.

'You told me you loved me Syed!'

Syed just stared at him.

'how do you expect me to believe that after everything you've put me through, and still, after all that, you chose her.'

Syed couldn't speak through the emotion that was building in his chest. Christian let out a shaky sigh and pushed past Syed, who remained rooted to the spot.

As soon as Christian had disappeared from view Syed Dropped the flowers and began to run.