The Worst Feeling In Her Life

Jennifer can hardly breathe. She feels dizzy, sick to the bottom of her stomach. She stands at the edge of the park and looks into the night. She was supposed to meet him here. He was supposed to give her answers. But she didn’t even know who he was.

Why had she been receiving these strange flowers, and what did this person want from her? She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She was going to figure this out, one way or another. But little did she know that the worst was yet to come.

The Prom Queen

Jennifer’s life was almost perfect. She’d come from humble beginnings, but through studying hard and dreaming big she’d managed to do well at school. She’d even been voted prom queen and gave the valedictorian speech at graduation.

Not many people knew what she’d had to overcome. Even her closest friends didn’t know what she was thinking, and they didn’t know she sometimes cried herself to sleep at night. That’s because some pain stays with you for years – especially the pain that cuts the deepest.

Her Difficult Childhood

Jennifer’s mom was her best friend. They’d been through a lot together – her mom had raised her singlehandedly while working two jobs, just to put food on the table. At first, Jennifer didn’t understand how much her mom had sacrificed for her, but over the years she appreciated it more and more.

When she was young, they moved back to her mom’s hometown in Indiana. That was their fresh start. Soon, Jennifer’s memory of her old childhood began to fade, until she could barely remember what was troubling her. Little did she know that those memories would soon come rushing back.

Employee of the Month, Boyfriend of the Year

When Jennifer graduated, she managed to find a job that paid the bills, even if she didn’t love it. That’s where she met her boyfriend, Dwight. He was kind, responsible and had beautiful eyes. He was her ocean-eyed beau.

What’s more, Dwight was the most romantic man Jennifer had ever met. He remembered every anniversary, even the little ones, and always surprised her with gifts. But there were some surprises she never could have prepared for…

Grand Gestures

Dwight loved to make grand, romantic gestures. He’d give her sparkling diamond necklaces, moonlight-filled gems that looked like they’d belonged to Elizabeth Taylor. Jennifer knew his salary was almost exactly the same as hers; she knew he made huge sacrifices for these gifts.

One time, Dwight even surprised her with a trip to Paris. She arrived home one day to find him standing there with the tickets and her bags already packed. Looking back now, it was the most romantic week of her life. She didn’t think Dwight could do any wrong…

A Quarter of a Century

Jennifer’s 25th birthday was coming up. She had mixed feelings about it: your 25th birthday is a milestone, that’s for sure, but you’re also a real adult, with responsibilities. There came a time to put silly things away, put your dreams behind you, and settle down.

But there was something that gave Jennifer heart. Dwight would definitely be planning something big to celebrate, and she had no idea what it would be. He was always so good at surprising her! He was coming to her apartment at noon, and he’d told her to dress up for the occasion. What Jennifer couldn’t have predicted, however, was that something else would arrive first.

A Knock at the Door

There was a knock at the door, which was odd. Jennifer wasn’t expecting Dwight for another few hours and she hadn’t even started getting ready. She rushed downstairs to answer the knocking, excited for what it might be.

When Jennifer opened the door, she saw a delivery man carrying a huge bouquet of red tulips. There were so many flowers he could barely hold them all, and they smelled like a fresh morning garden. These were her favorite flowers, and she was thrilled that Dwight knew her so well – but she was about to be hit by an unexpected twist.

The Second Bouquet

Dwight was always on time. At exactly noon, he knocked on the door. Jennifer couldn’t wait for whatever it was he had planned. She gave herself one last look in the mirror and then opened the door to her boyfriend. That’s when things got weird.

Dwight was holding an enormous bouquet of red tulips. He must have been worried by her confused expression, but he soon understood the problem: Jennifer had received two identical bouquets of flowers on her birthday.

A Secret Admirer?

Jennifer felt sick. If it wasn’t her boyfriend sending her flowers, who could it be? She worried about what Dwight would think – would he believe that she had no idea who might have sent the bouquet?

Maybe she was being stalked. Maybe someone had been watching her for weeks, realized that today was her birthday, and decided to make themselves known. But Jennifer could never have figured out who was sending her these flowers…

A Rational Explanation

Dwight wasn’t worried. Sure, he was puzzled, but he had a rational explanation for the two bouquets. He explained that there must have been a mix-up with the florist. Maybe they’d accidentally ordered a bouquet to be delivered to Jennifer as well as ordering a bouquet for him to bring.

Jennifer wasn’t sure. It seemed too strange to be solved so simply. But she didn’t want it to ruin her birthday, and she could hardly turn down having two bouquets of her favorite flowers! In hindsight, Jennifer realized she should have listened to her gut…

The Romantic Meal

Dwight had pulled out all of the stops for Jennifer. They went to the fanciest restaurant in town and dined like royalty. Soon, Jennifer began to forget about the morning’s mix-up with the flowers. She just wanted to enjoy her evening, so she put the confusion behind her.

But this isn’t a story full of happy birthdays and putting the past behind you. In fact, the past comes calling, again and again, right when you least expect it…

Another Bouquet

By the next month, Jennifer had forgotten all about the flowers. If she remembered it at all, it was as a funny story, something to tell around the water cooler at work. She imagined people would think her lucky to get two bouquets of flowers on her birthday – but it turns out luck had nothing to do with it.

One morning, there was an all-too-familiar knock at the door. When she opened it, there was yet another delivery man with yet more flowers, her second-favorite kind. She was beginning to put the pieces together.

Flowers for Jennifer

When Jennifer was young, she wanted to be a florist. She used to love walking through the woods of her hometown, finding all sorts of strange flowers. She was obsessed with them.

But when she moved to the big city in Indiana, she put her dreams behind her. When she looked back, it now felt like a different Jennifer with different ambitions, but it was still a part of her. Whoever was sending these flowers, they’d tapped into these long-hidden memories. But who could do something like that?

Dwight’s Secret?

Jennifer could only think of one person who’d do something like this. She reached for her phone and called Dwight. Maybe this was some kind of prank, the kind of long, romantic game he sometimes liked to play. Thinking about it, it would be sort of funny for Dwight to be sending her mysterious flowers every month…

But he denied it all – and Jennifer believed him. In fact, he sounded more worried than ever. He began to ask about getting the police involved, but Jennifer wanted to figure this out on her own. She should have listened to him.

The Old Flower Shop

There was only one place in her city that would sell flowers are unique as the ones Jennifer kept receiving: the old flower shop. It had been there for hundreds of years, owned by the same family for generations. Jennifer had only been in once, but she felt like they kept looking at her like she wasn’t welcome. Now she avoided the street entirely.

But today was different. Jennifer needed answers, so she decided to go back to the old flower shop. They had to know something… they helped, but not in the way Jennifer had expected.

The Elderly Shopkeeper

The florist was standing behind the counter, his belly resting on top of it. He pushed his glasses up his nose when Jennifer walked in and squinted at her. “You don’t normally come in here,” he said. Jennifer explained that she’d been receiving strange flowers for months and wondered if he could help.

“Alright then,” he said, “let’s take a look.” Jennifer put the bouquets on the counter, but she never could have predicted what the shopkeeper would say next.

Strange Flowers

“These are some strange flowers, that’s for sure,” the shopkeeper said. Jennifer was confused. They were some of her favorite flowers; she knew everything about them. What she didn’t know was why they kept ending up at her house.

“Can’t help you there,” he said, shaking his head. Jennifer began to get angry. It wasn’t possible that a professional florist knew less about these flowers than she did. Perhaps noticing her expression, the shopkeeper added: “we don’t stock these, for one particular reason.”

Connecticut Flowers

“There’s something that all of these flowers have in common,” the florist said. “They’re all grown in the same place. You need Connecticut soil. Everything in Indiana is too dry.”

Jennifer was shocked. All of these flowers were from Hartford, Connecticut. It didn’t make sense. Suddenly, all of her memories came rushing back to her…

The Perfect Childhood

Jennifer had grown up in Hartford. She remembered picking these flowers; they grew next to the creek in the woods, some of the first flowers of springtime. She’d forgotten all about them!

But how had these flowers turned up in Indiana, so far away? And why? She still didn’t have the answers to these questions – but she was going to get them.

The Final Bouquet

The next month, Jennifer received another bouquet. It was the same routine, one with which she’d become uncomfortably familiar: a knock at the door, and some of her favorite flowers handed to her. But, this time, there was something different.

This time, the flowers had a small card attached to them. There was no mistaking it: this was a note from her secret admirer…

Building up the Courage

Jennifer took a deep breath. She’d been obsessing over this mystery for months and come no closer to solving it. But this note could be the clue she desperately needed.

She closed her eyes for a moment. Was she really ready to confront this? She wondered if she should call Dwight, but decided against it. He’d only worry. Besides, this was something she had to deal with herself. She opened the card.

Beautiful, Careful Writing

Jennifer was shocked at what she found. The note was written in the most beautiful, careful handwriting she’d ever seen. It was like something out of an old Hollywood movie. But there was something that worried her.

She didn’t recognize the handwriting at all. Part of her had believed, still, that this was a prank by her boyfriend. But it definitely wasn’t his writing, and it wasn’t from anyone that she knew. Her heart began to race in her chest – but what the note said was set to shock her even more.

The Nighttime Meeting

“Dear Jennifer,” the note read, “meet me at the enclosed address at 10pm. Come alone. I’m looking forward to seeing you. It’s been a long time – far too long.”

Jennifer felt dizzy. So: she’d finally find out who was sending her these flowers. The mysterious note hadn’t given her any more clues, but it did promise an end to the thoughts that had been gnawing away at her. But at what cost?

A Killer on the Loose

Jennifer wasn’t reckless. She knew that this could be a trap. She knew that going at night, going alone, would be dangerous. What if there was a killer on the loose who was going to attack her? But it seemed like the only way she’d ever get answers.

If Jennifer knew then what she knew now, she wouldn’t have been so nervous. This was going to be a life-changing moment – for better or for worse.

Preparing for the Meeting

Jennifer knew she had to be prepared for the meeting. She looked at herself in the mirror. She was holding a kitchen knife, and she brandished it menacingly. It didn’t seem all that convincing, but it was all she could do.

She slipped the knife into the pocket of her coat and turned up her collar. Then she picked up her car keys and went outside. It was time to solve this mystery once and for all.

The Playpark at Night

Jennifer followed the route to the address exactly. But she wasn’t prepared for what she found there. It was the playpark she used to play at as a child, right after she moved to Indiana. She remembered the swings, though they were old and broken now.

She’d spent countless summer days here. It was where she made her first friends in the big, new city. Of course, it looked very different at night. Shadows played about the strange metal structures. The clouds dipped in front of the moon.

The Shadow in the Dark

Jennifer squinted out of her car into the gloom. She couldn’t see far beyond her own headlights, now that the moonlight had been hidden. She put on her gloves and got out of the car, peering into the darkness.

Eventually, her eyes adjusted. It didn’t seem like there was anyone here. Everything was strangely quiet, though they weren’t all that far from the middle of the city. Then she noticed something that made her blood run cold.

The Man on the Park Bench

As Jennifer’s eyes became accustomed to the darkness, she saw someone sitting on the park bench. They were very still, with a nearby lamppost casting their face in shadow. It was the only person around. This must be the person she was meant to meet.

She checked her phone. It was getting close to 10pm. This was her last chance to turn back. She could forget all about the flowers and put this behind her. She almost got back into her car, but she was too late – the man turned around and looked right at her.

The Longest Walk

It was like she was watching it happen in slow motion. The man got up from the park bench and began to walk towards her. Jennifer felt sick to the bottom of her stomach; part of her wanted to turn around and run, but she couldn’t.

He was getting closer now, but she still couldn’t make out his features. He was tall and well-built, with the brim of a cap covering his face. He began to walk more quickly. He was practically on top of her.

The Knife

Jennifer gripped the knife she had hidden in her pocket. She’d never imagined she might have to use it. The handle felt cold now, even through her gloves. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to pull it out in time, never mind the fact that he was so much bigger than she was.

She began to think that she’d made a mistake. What had she been thinking? She’d offered to meet a stranger at night. But what Jennifer didn’t realize was that she didn’t have to worry at all.

Into the Light

The man stepped forward, now illuminated by the headlights of her car. Her heart began to beat faster and faster as she realized one thing – she didn’t recognize him. He must have been in his 60s, with deep lines in his brow.

He looked her in the face with piercing green eyes. Then he did something that made Jennifer feel like she was about to pass out. He began to reach into his pocket and pull something out.

The Scream

Jennifer couldn’t help it. He was about to pull his hand back out of his pocket – she couldn’t even see what he was holding – but she screamed. The man jumped and stepped back, nearly falling over. Suddenly, he didn’t seem threatening at all. He just seemed like an old man.

“Jennifer,” he said, in a voice that reached far back into her past, into her memories. “It’s me,” he said. Jennifer gasped. It was all beginning to make sense. Then he said three words she’d never forget.

The Book of Flowers

“Jennifer, don’t be scared,” the man said, reaching slowly into his pocket again. He looked her straight in the eyes. “I’m your father.”

The man took a book out of his pocket and Jennifer’s memories came flooding back. It was a book of pressed flowers she kept as a child. She used to write notes about where they grew and when they bloomed. This man, her father, had kept it all this time.

The Confession

“Jennifer,” he said, “I’ve been growing flowers like the ones in this book. I’ve been sending them to you. I know I must be a stranger to you, but I want to be a part of your life again.

“All these years I’ve kept this book, wondering where you’d gone, what you were doing, what your life was like. Now I can see that you’ve grown into a strong, amazing woman. Intelligent, curious and beautiful. Please – I want to be a part of your family.”

Reconciliation

Jennifer began to cry. She’d never had a father, not really. But it suddenly felt like a part of her life, one that had been missing, was suddenly filled. She hugged the man tightly. This was the start of a new phase in her life. They had so much catching up to do.

Suddenly, the man stepped back. He looked nervous. Jennifer asked him what the problem was. “Jennifer,” he asked anxiously, “is that a knife in your pocket?”

Family is more important than anything

The story of Jennifer and her father has an important moral – whether separated by great distances, or great troubles, the connection to family is never broken. If two family members want to reconcile, there’ll always be the opportunity to make it happen.

Jennifer and Dwight had children, and her father became a grandfather. Their house was always full of flowers, and the red tulips always reminded Jennifer of how her family became whole again.