The Line of Fate

If Only

If only this story took place in Imperial Russia or France, but no, it all started on my way home in the busy city of San Fransisco, California. Believe me, I wish I grew up in some adorable small town but life isn't fair, so I went to community college and I live with my grandma at age 23. We own a small flower shop just off of 18th street called Daisy's Daffodils. Daisy was my great grandma's name, she got the business started originally and then passed it to her daughter. My dad died in the army when I was seven years old, my mom is currently in the military participating in some secret operation, she left the day after I graduated high school and I haven't seen her since. So back to the present, I work with my grandma to keep up the flower shop. On this particular day I had just picked up some groceries for our apartment above the shop and I was rushing through the freezing weather to get inside. I crossed onto our street only to trip over the curb and drop the paper bag I was holding.

"Hey, you okay little lady?" A raspy voice called out. I looked up to see a man wrapped in three different jackets wearing jeans with a split down the side and only socks covering his large feet.

"Yeah, I should be fine. Aren't you cold Sir?" I offered while picking up my groceries.

"Well I can't remember the last time a pretty lady called me sir," he said with a hearty laugh, "I am a bit cold but there's not much I can do about it." I picked up the rest of my groceries and gave him a small smile.

"I live just up the street and I have some old clothes that you could have if you want."

"Oh, I don't want to intrude." he responded waving his hands in front of his face, rejecting my offer.

"Not at all, my grandmother and I love company." He smiled at my words, I took it as a yes and gestured for him to follow me. By the time we got back to my house I knew that his name was Will and he lost his job four years ago when his boss sold his company. I unlocked the door calling out to my grandma that I was back.

"Finally, good lord Ana, how long do grocer-" as she entered the room, she saw that we were not alone and put on a friendly smile, "oh, and who is this?"

"This is Will, I tripped coming home and he helped me out so I offered to give him some of Dad's old clothes." I set the groceries in their now wet paper bag down on the dinning room table and walked upstairs to get Will some clothes. We had stored all of Dad's old clothes in boxes in the hall closet. I grabbed a pair of jeans, a long sleeve shirt, some boots, and a nice parka. There was a bag sitting on the shelf in the closet that I filled with some of the other clothes and an additional pair of shoes. As I descended the steps to the main floor, I heard my grandmothers voice.

"Why thank you, the business has been in the family for quite a few years and now Ana and I run the shop ourselves." Grandma spoke with pride.

"Thank you so much for allowing me into your home, I'll be on my way soon not to overstay my welcome." I chose this moment to make self known.

"Don't worry, your welcome to stay. Here are some clothes to change into, the bathroom is down the hall and to the right." My finger guiding the way to the bathroom after passing over the clothes to will. He wandered down the hall, clothes in hand and I took a seat on the couch.

"You take after your parents you know," I looked up at the sound of her voice, "they could never turn down the opportunity to help someone."

"Don't do that," My voice stern, "don't talk about her like she's gone, as far as we know my mother is still alive."

"I never said she wasn't but after not hearing anything for this long we-" she was interrupted by Will walking in dressed in my dad's old clothes.

"You look great! Do they fit fine?" I said with enthusiasm.