"For you," he softly said as he handed her a yellow carnation, her favorite flower.
She smiled softly. "Thank you. You always know how to make me smile."
"Of course, Mel. You know how much I love you."
She giggled before pushing him playfully. "Stop it, Raffy! Don't say things you don't mean. I'm telling your dad!"
He turned towards her, suddenly serious. "But I mean it, Melanie. I really do."
She continued to laugh, thinking he was still joking, stopping when she realized he wasn't laughing with her.
"Raf?"
"I love you, Mel."
Silence.
Silence so loud, it was deafening.
With wide eyes and a hand on her mouth, she dropped the yellow carnation, turned around—
And ran.
He picked up the yellow carnation as he watched her take off, a single tear dropping on its petals.