"I picked some daisies for you," he says. "I know they're your favorite."

You turn to face him, and lie. "Actually, I prefer lilies."

His face falls. His eyes drop. His feet shuffle. "Oh."

There is a tense silence. He proffers the flowers, anyway. "Still, though. I picked them for you."

It is a sparse bouquet, the stems roughly broken and half of the flowers near-wilted.

You take it, anyway. "Thank you."

"You're welcome…" he croaks, licking his lips and kneading his shoes into the peaty soil of the garden.

You stand in the overgrown garden, a cool breeze tickling your skin. Holding the small bouquet. Your own brown curls drift in front of your eyes occasionally. You are too preoccupied to brush them away. Too preoccupied with not looking at him.

"I'm sorry." He winces as he speaks.

"Sorry…" you echo, lips trembling. Ever-so slightly.

"Yeah. I'm sorry… So sorry."

Tongues of flame dance up your spine, burning your throat with the words which you wish to hurl at him. Fueled by your childless womb. Your racing heart. Your aching lungs.

Minutes pass.

Suddenly, something sparks. Something explodes. Regurgitates its fury. Something.

"Yeah?"

You fling down the flowers. They scatter in the thick grass.

"Sorry doesn't cut it! No, no! How dare you? How dare you! You lie—," your breath catches, "you… you… spike my drink! You… you! All this time! I've… all this time, I've been looking… looking into the eyes of a liar!"

Your hands tremble. They curl into fists.

"Of a… of a…" a sob breaks up your throat, unexpectedly.

You face him, angrily, furiously, wetness icing down your cheeks. "I loved you!" you accuse.

"I loved you… and you lied! You lied about everything! Ev-everything…" a hiccup interrupts your tirade, "I… I… I hate you! Hate you! How… how could you? How!"

He steps hesitantly forward, face tight, mouth opening helplessly.

"No! No!" you make a spastic hand gesture, tumbling back a step. "Stay away, away from me!"

He takes your wrist. You whip it away.

"Don't touch me!"

More sobs. Random, venting breaths.

He looks so hurt, so wounded, so pained. For a moment, you waver.

No. You will be strong. You will never give in.

It is in that moment that you build the walls around your heart.

Against your knowledge, it is constructed of lies, pain, and mistrust.