excerpt from Of a Flower: Chapter 1
in-progress novel written by Kevin Liang
It was a summer evening when it happened.
As the sun started to crest under the outline of the rooftops, I began moving the flowers indoors. Carefully, I placed the racks in neat stacks behind the window.
Outside, the streets were thinning, as citizens retired their activities and disappeared into the brick houses that lined the road. Carts and carriages rolled by, the trotting of the horses echoing through the avenue.
A few citizens drifted still, presumably overlooking the numerous shops closing up or taking an evening stroll. One of them, a middle-aged man with an aging face, stopped in front of my store as I stepped back outside.
“Good evening, m’lady,” said the visitor. I responded in kind, smiling back. “Business well today?”
“It was fair.” There was not much else to say beyond that.
He nodded. “Quite an assembly you have.” Stroking his mustache, he hunched over to look at the few flowers I had left outside.
I gently laughed. “Thank you. I collected them from the woods just outside of town.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Do you go by yourself?”
“Yes. It’s not very far from my house.”
“That’s very brave of you.” He straightened himself. “A young lady like you to venture out there despite the stories that have been spreading around.”
I shrugged. “It’s natural to me. I lived out there my entire life and they’ve never bothered me.”
“Things could very well change soon,” his voice tensing. “You would do best to watch out for yourself. The spirits. They may change their minds about living next to you.”
Smiling shyly, I gripped my hands behind my back. “I will take heed to that advice.”
The man turned and motioned to the tray of light blue flowers. “If I may, I would like to purchase a flower before you close up.” Superficially smiling, he added, “For my wife.”
“Ah, of course!”
I served the visitor the flower and saw him off, then resumed my work. Moving the table inside, I locked the door and set off home. With a basket full of aged flowers, I joined the stream of citizens walking in the streets.