"There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." – Vincent van Gogh
He glanced at the little lint wolf he had absentmindedly crafted, turning it over in his hands. The wolf stood staring up at him from within his hand, head cocked to the side as if listening to some far off sound he was not privy to.
Miri would like it. She always liked the little things he created. Miri always encouraged whatever he crafted even when no one else did.
He missed Miri, but she was up in the Academy with the other girls until the snow thawed.
It was one of the few pieces of lint he still had from the mines. He hoped to get more soon. He wanted to craft something for Miri: a little gift of sorts for her to remember the village, something that would remind her of the village and him.
The thought of the possibility of the Prince choosing her to be his princess was frighteningly real. Miri was smart, kind, and determined, always thinking of how to help other people. Only a fool would not want Miri.
He certainly wasn't a fool, but he wanted what was best for Miri. If Miri would be happy as the Prince's Princess then he would let her go, albeit reluctantly, but if given a choice he would much prefer for her to stay in the village. With him.
After being best friends with her for what seemed like his entire life, he couldn't begin to imagine her not being there for the rest of it. Miri was a part of his life he had never even considered the possibility of losing. It had taken him a while to realise that what he felt for her had grown to become more than the strong friendship he had believed it to be. He could only hope the feeling was reciprocated.
She was the little flower that was his inspiration for his carvings.