Pete closed the door of the town hall and took a few steps away. The flowers in his wing, once colorful and alive, drooped. He slumped and shuffled to the bench on the edge of the plaza. Crushed petals fell from his feathers. The trail studded the grass like gemstones torn from their strings and tossed away, but Pete didn't notice the flowers' descent or the moon's pale glow. He didn't notice the prints he made from pacing around the town hall three times or the shivers the chill night air gave him.
"Phyllis…" The pelican took a seat by the fountain. "Why do you push me away so?" He watched the splatters of the fountain for a while. Drops landed on his face, but he only knitted his wings together more tightly. "You've rejected me for years, but I can't…just chase after someone else."
"I deliver mail. Maybe not so glamorous, but what of you? You watch the desk at the town hall, give people monthly gifts, tell 'em they can save their precious letters." He looked up at the stars. "Do you ever save any from me?" A shooting star streaked across the sky, and he closed his eyes. "What about the table I gave you when you had just moved here? Did you keep that?" Pete got up and circled the fountain a few times.
"Do you even remember how we met?"
A bell in the doorway…a flash of color…two pelicans unloading boxes from a car…
"Welcome!"
"Do you ever stand in the plaza and just remember?"
Hidden behind the bulletin board, Pelly picked up a flower petal and turned it over. She held it delicately and dropped it, closing her eyes. It fell like a raindrop and sank into the grass.
"Pete…" She leaned against the town hall. "Why must you hurt me so?"
A long drive…a stream of sunlight…a friendly voice…
"Welcome!"
"I've always remembered you."
Pete trudged away from the fountain; Pelly away from the board. The flowers were motionless in the grass. They stayed that way until Phyllis found them.
Just like she always did.