“I’m going to be picking thorns out of my fingers for days, “ Vivian whined to Taryn over the phone later that night. The annoying beep of the microwave pierced the relative silence and Vivian lifted Whisper, her white Persian, from her lap, setting him back down in her now vacated seat.

 

“I know what you mean. My hands are stained silver from that damn spray,” Taryn added with a laugh.

 

Vivian chuckled as she removed her dinner and peeled back the film covering a vegetable and rice concoction. “I’m thinking about swearing off men,” she stated, loading her fork and bringing the steaming bite to her lips.

 

Taryn gasped. “What? Viv, why on Earth would you do that?” she asked, appalled. “You’re young yet! Don’t give up on them!” she cried.

 

Vivian laughed. “The only reason you don’t want me to quit men is because now that you’re a married woman, you live vicariously through my few and far between encounters,” she replied.

 

“You know I love Diego. But honestly, I think I was too young to settle down,” Taryn admitted.

 

“You were 30!!”

 

“I know! I still had years of life in me! Just think of all the men I missed out on!” Taryn whined.

 

“I’m 28. I would love to be where you are by the time I’m 32,” Vivian confessed.

 

“Then do something about it,” Taryn ordered.

 

“There’s obviously something wrong with me.”

 

“And why would you say that?”

 

“Why else would I still be single? Christ! My ex is gay for crying out loud! What does that say about me?!”

 

“You should have given that hottie from the shop your digits. You could be bumpin’ uglies as we speak if you had,” Taryn sighed.

 

“Tact, T! It’s called tact!” Vivian giggled, although the image of that green-eyed god gazing at her with a desire, a longing, sent shivers down her spine.

 

“Listen. Do you want to go to dinner with Diego and me on tomorrow night?” Taryn asked, changing the subject.

 

Vivian groaned. “No, Taryn. I’ll be fine. I’ve spent over a dozen Valentine’s Days single before. One more won’t kill me,” she answered.

 

It was silent on the other end. But finally, Taryn spoke. “You’re not going to do anything stupid, are you?”

 

“Define stupid.”

 

Taryn inhaled deeply. “Sitting in your underwear in the navy blue recliner that takes up half of your living room while watching depressing romances in the feeble attempt to forge some resemblance of love in your own life and eating cookie dough ice cream directly from the pint-sized container with a spoon that barely fits in your mouth,” Taryn stated with obvious certainty, gasping for breath at the definition’s end.

 

Vivian snorted. “Throw in Whisper purring contentedly on my lap and you’ll have an accurate picture.”

 

Just then a knock sounded at Vivian’s door. “Hold on a second, Taryn,” she said as she pushed her plate aside and rose from her chair. She unhooked the chain and unlocked the deadbolt, opening the door to see a young man half hidden behind an elaborate bouquet of flowers.

 

“Vivian Sloan?” the young man asked, his eyes peering around the large leaves and petals. Vivian nodded. “Then these are for you. Sign here,” the man said, juggling his cargo in order to hand Vivian the confirmation slip. Vivian scrawled her name across the acceptance line and took the vase from the delivery boy’s arms. “Thank you, m’am. And Happy Valentine’s Day,” he stated before turning away toward the elevators.

 

Vivian placed the bundle on the table, overwhelmed by the exotic orchids and lilies surrounded by lush ivy, ferns, and other floral shrubbery in an intentionally cracked blue vase. ‘Who would send me flowers?’ she brain wondered. Delicately picking through the leaves, she pulled the small card from amongst the petals, the ivory-colored envelope simply saying Vivie.

 

Vivian smiled as she carefully tore the seal, already knowing who would send her such a gift. Whisper jumped up on the table and buried his pink nose in the greenery. Vivian’s eyes moved back and forth as she read the words printed on the plain paper and absently scratched behind Whisper’s ears.

 

Vivie,

Valentine’s Day is the day for lovers. But just because your alone doesn’t mean you’re not loved. You are special soul who touches the lives of everyone she meets. Blessed are those who know you well, fortunate are those who cross your path, and pitied are those you will never encounter. Happy Valentine’s Day.

 

Vivian swiped away the tears that had fallen with the pads of her fingers, the beautiful words firmly imprinted into her memory. “Vivie, are you still there?” Taryn’s voice brought her back to where she was prior to the delivery.

 

“Thank you, Taryn,” she stated softly.

 

“For what?”

 

“The flowers. I know you think I’m depressed because I’m single, but you really didn’t need to send me flowers,” Vivian replied, sniffing the lily that stood tall before her.

 

“Viv, I didn’t send you flowers. What are you talking about?” Taryn questioned, genuine confusion and loss evident in her words. Vivian furrowed her brows in puzzlement.

“Don’t play around, T. Who else would send me flowers? Who else calls me Vivie?”

 

“Viv, I swear to God I did not send you any flowers,” Taryn affirmed.