Oooh, Aster or Dahlia for the flower prompt, pretty please! Love your writing ❤️
A box full of keepsakes and their meanings
I… I am so sorry
“Um,” TK licks his lips, letting his palm rest on his thigh. In it is an ordinary dart but after another minute of silence, TK swallows hard and looks to Carlos with guilt. “I’m not sure.”
Carlos takes it in stride, smiling a little as he recalls, “On our first anniversary, we recreated one of our first dates. You forgot the dart was in your pocket and brought it home with us.”
The moment flashes back to him—the initial date and the subsequent one. Carlos’ maroon Henley.
“Right, yes. I knew that,” TK promises.
Carlos’ arm around his back tightens. “I know you do.”
TK’s hand shakes as he tries to place it back in the box, the tremors so bad he almost knocks it to the floor. But even in his seventh decade of life, Carlos’ reflexes are quick. He catches it, righting it on his lap and TK doesn’t have enough ‘thank you’s to give to him lately.
Carlos doesn’t need them, anyway. In sickness and health, he promised years ago, weeks before they were even married. He hasn’t wavered once in that vow.
“What about this?” Carlos moves on, selecting the next item.
The small, plastic bottle is unsuspecting. If someone were to place bets on what in this box would be unfamiliar to TK, he’s sure they’d pick this. But TK can recall that moment as if it were yesterday. He remembers shoving that hotel shampoo into their bag before they left for the airport upon realization that they had zero souvenirs to show for their honeymoon. More importantly, he remembers the reason they didn’t get out and do much exploring in the first place.
“Tuscany,” TK murmurs, laughing quietly. He promises himself that he’ll keep remembering when he sees the look in Carlos’ eyes because of it. “Impossible to forget.”
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