you don't know that you're living 'til you're carrying scars
Flora’s smile unfurls like sunrise across calm water as Mateo fusses with the petals at her waist. "I half‑expected you not to show up to this," she teases, nose crinkling with fond mischief. Straightening beneath his gentle adjustments, she brushes an imaginary speck from his embroidered sleeve and lets the hush of gratitude settle, warm and certain. "Gratsee. Coming from the artist himself, that's probably the best compliment I could ever get."
Her gaze slides toward their fathers, who stand wrapped in their own quiet constellation of joy; she returns to Mateo with exaggerated disbelief shimmering in her eyes. "Ten years," she muses, low and wry. "I barely limped through one with Jack before the whole ship capsized, so.." A light shrug sends lavender swaying. "Do you think you could stick with just one person, for any length of time?" The question is playful, but the glint behind it is earnest curiosity.
And then—wind, laughter, centrifugal delight— Enzo ’s arms circle her, and the world blurs into a carousel of torchlight and petals. Flora’s laughter peals like bells caught in a salt breeze, the gown flaring around her calves as though the flowers themselves are dancing. When her feet meet sand again, she slips beneath Enzo’s arm as naturally as the tide slides against the sand, nestling close enough to feel the spectral warmth she’s missed with every heartbeat this past year.
"You have impeccable timing as always," she whispers, tilting her cheek briefly against his shoulder before drawing back to beam at Mateo. "Forgive me for being scandalously rude, but would you hate me for stealing our ghostly sibling away for a bit?" Her hand squeezes Mateo’s forearm, a promise carved in gentle pressure. "Promise we won't be too long, but I've a year of drama to fill him in on."
Her gaze slides toward their fathers, who stand wrapped in their own quiet constellation of joy; she returns to Mateo with exaggerated disbelief shimmering in her eyes. "Ten years," she muses, low and wry. "I barely limped through one with Jack before the whole ship capsized, so.." A light shrug sends lavender swaying. "Do you think you could stick with just one person, for any length of time?" The question is playful, but the glint behind it is earnest curiosity.
And then—wind, laughter, centrifugal delight— Enzo ’s arms circle her, and the world blurs into a carousel of torchlight and petals. Flora’s laughter peals like bells caught in a salt breeze, the gown flaring around her calves as though the flowers themselves are dancing. When her feet meet sand again, she slips beneath Enzo’s arm as naturally as the tide slides against the sand, nestling close enough to feel the spectral warmth she’s missed with every heartbeat this past year.
"You have impeccable timing as always," she whispers, tilting her cheek briefly against his shoulder before drawing back to beam at Mateo. "Forgive me for being scandalously rude, but would you hate me for stealing our ghostly sibling away for a bit?" Her hand squeezes Mateo’s forearm, a promise carved in gentle pressure. "Promise we won't be too long, but I've a year of drama to fill him in on."
you're either falling in love or you're falling apart
