Unpacking the suitcase I came back with, I found the vase and chuckled to myself. I carried it down the hall and knocked on Alan's door.The door pulled open right away, a small smile on his face."You don't have to knock anymore," he said. "You're free to come in whenever you want.""Okay."Then he added that if I wanted to move in, I could.The idea did not excite me. This had once been Amy's room. Sharing it with him felt wrong in a way I could not fully explain."I think I'll be alright in my own room. I'd rather we keep separate rooms for now."He nodded in quiet understanding.I held out the vase. "I came to give you this properly, like you asked.""Go ahead. It's yours to place." He gestured to the flower by the window. I bent down and swapped the old container for the new one, setting the flower gently inside it."Thank you," he said once I was done."Well, you paid for it.""For you.""It's yours now.""And they said not to give a gift away." The corner of his mouth lifted."
Last Updated : 2026-08-24 Read more