The Flower Shop by Ayokunle Adedipe.

Love wasn’t a walk in the park like writers described. It wasn’t a fairy tale like scriptwriters described. It wasn’t that easy.
It was a roller-coaster ride. Those ones that almost throw you out but you don’t fall out but you puke when it stops and suddenly want more. That type.
It was a puzzle. The type I cant solve. I think no one can. Only God. And he made love the basis of life.
All these thoughts were running through my head as I walked to the location given to me by the team manager. She wanted to have coffee before we began the project. I hadn’t been to Copenhagen in years and my friends felt it would be nice to have a vacation. But i was a workaholic. If I was going to be back here, then I could do some work at least. I couldn’t waste a month in Denmark just vacationing.
It wasn’t like i had never experienced love. I only experienced this type of love once and trust me, it was earth shaking.
I was 22 and I had just graduated from university coming back from a job interview when I met him.
It was spring in Copenhagen and it was the most beautiful sight. Tulips, cherry blossoms and daffodils were in full bloom and that was when I noticed the flower shop. It was just at the corner of my street.
After admiring the ones out front, I entered the shop and greeted the owner in the only Danish I knew,
“god dag” my accent was so floozy. Luckily he spoke English back to me probably recognizing the funny accent.
4 years in Denmark and I still wasn’t fluent in Danish. I had gotten a scholarship to study business as an exchange student from New York and I took the opportunity. Who wouldn’t?
As I admired the tulips, I heard someone speak by my side.
“sådanne smukke blomster” the person spoke and I realized it was directed at me.
“Sorry I don’t speak Danish” I answered and that was when I got a good look at him and all I could see was his blue eyes then we were both staring at each other. It was like a Netflix movie and none of us moved till he broke the silence.
” I’m sorry” he mustered up and moved closer. I ignored him and continued my sight seeing.
“You know the significance of red tulips?” He asked and I noticed the fluency in English too. I wasn’t too fond of talking to strangers but I still replied.
” No I don’t. I’m not that deep” I smiled and he smiled back.
“Maybe I’ll tell you one day” He uttered with so much confidence.
I picked a bunch of the pink tulips and walked to the cashier then laughed to myself. I had spent too much time in the shop and there was no point arguing with a stranger.
The blue eyed guy who was actually average height then took some flowers and walked to where I was standing.
” Do you want to know what I said in Danish” I nodded. Not because I didn’t want to know but I just didn’t want to pursue the conversation further.
After paying, I grabbed the flowers and left the shop. I couldn’t wait to set them on the balcony. They would give the apartment a homely look.
“Miss!” I turned around to see the blue eyed person again.
I checked to see if I forgot my purse or something because I didnt understand why he was calling me.
” Yes.” I answered almost frustrated.
” These are for you.” he offered some flowers and I just stared at him.
” Well, i also got mine but I figured these colours match your eyes” he continued. I looked at the flowers and saw them; purple and white.
“sådanne smukke blomster” He repeated.
“Such beautiful flowers” he translated. I collected the flowers hesitantly still stunned.
“how about I see you again and I could tell you the significance of those tulips?”
Well, we saw again and again and we started dating.
Frederik was amazing. He was an engineer in a tech company and was a Danish national but he had studied English as a minor in college and was very fluent in it. I also got a good job in Copenhagen in a multinational company so I only needed to brush up on my Danish and he helped a lot.
We had that puzzling, rollercoaster but once in a lifetime kind of love. I introduced him to my family in new york and my friends loved him. It was like I was truly in a Netflix movie. But like all movies, there must be an end.
I got a promotion during our 3rd year together but it required me to move back to New York. I was excited and even suggested Fred push for a promotion but he wasn’t eligible till another 5 years so I moved alone and we both swore we could make it work.
It did work for the first 6 months then gradually we faded and faded till winter 2015. I had just turned 25 when I decided we broke up. He wouldn’t give in and he was ready to sacrifice his job for me but I was tired and I gave up. That was the end of our movie.
Maybe it was karma that I never found that type of love again and maybe I deserved it but I would give anything to even feel an inch of what I felt with Fred.5 years later and I was back. I lost contact with him over the years and I silently prayed that maybe I would run into him. My phone beeped and I saw a text from the team manager saying her boss would like to meet with me instead. I just hoped the meeting went well and the boss was nice.
Getting to the location finally, I recognized the street immediately. It was where I lived. I looked around for a certain landmark and it was still there.
The flower shop but it now had coffee tables outside.
I walked to the shop and sat then a waiter came to take my order. i kept looking at the shop and the many memories I made on this street kept flashing back.
“sådanne smukke blomster” I whispered. Fred never did tell me the significance of the red tulips and I never bothered to Google them. It was a mystery for me and I preferred it that way.
” Miss.” I looked up to see the waiter.
” These are for you” he offered some flowers. I collected them hesitantly and looked at them. Red tulips.
” I never did tell you the meaning of red tulips” a voice said. A voice I recognized so well. Looking up, I see a pair of familiar blue eyes.
“Fred..” my voice croaked. I was shocked. It was Fred standing in front of me. I stood up still stunned and he smiled.
“perfekt kærlighed” he said in the most beautiful Danish accent.
” The red tulip signifies perfect love”.