It was impossible to concentrate, impossible to think of anything, of anyone other than Jimmy. Everywhere she looked something reminded her of him. The posters of the Broadway musical that filled her bedroom walls, bringing back that fateful day when Jimmy auditioned for a role that didn't actually exist in front of people who had absolutely no power at all to get him into the show. And yet he'd made his way onto the stage without anyone noticing. That is, until the disastrous performance.
But then her eyes landed on the bouquet of flowers he'd given her when he came to pick her up for their date. The flowers were surprisingly still as beautiful now as they were the moment he'd given them to her. They certainly were beautiful and there were so many. Suddenly his words came back to her.
"These are for you."
"I don't understand, Jimmy. There are so many! What in the heck are these?"
"I'm so glad you asked! Well, there are of course Dandelions, but we also have Cat's Tail, Red Lion's Tail, Leopard Flower and Tiger Claw. Flowers named after-."
"Cats..."
She spoke the word aloud, understanding the meaning of the romantic gesture for the first time. Of course… How could she have been so stupid as to miss the connection? It was so obvious! It was a strange gesture to be sure, but it must have taken him days to put the bouquet together. And the money it must have cost…
Most of all, he'd told her (once again) that he loved her.
Her heart began to ache and the tears began to fall. And then it hit her full force. She knew without a doubt that she loved him. If only she could find the words to tell him.