Waking up to the sunlight streaming in from the window, she stretched and yawned for a minute before getting up. Sighting flowers she was sure she couldn't have brought in a vase on her kitchen counter as she walked into what she would call her kitchen.

In truth, her one-bedroom apartment was barely sixty square feet. Yet, she had managed to partition it into a kitchen, a bedroom, and personal convenience. Each section was separated by thin curtains, if she held a book in each hand while stretching them out, she could almost touch the opposite walls of her appointment.

Yes, broke as she was this was the best she could afford. Her only option was to move in with Bob and his girlfriend; whoever it was at the moment. Bob went through girlfriends at the same speed a baby went through diapers.

Wondering where the flowers came from; she tried to recall what had happened the night before. She had come in after the rain had subsided, taken a hot bath, and gone straight to bed. She had promised to meet Bob at their spot so she had gone to bed early. Suddenly, she gasped. She remembered the stranger with blue eyes she had pulled out of the rain who had insisted she take the peonies.

She had never liked flowers; she thought they died too early. To her, it was a waste of time taking care of something that would die anyway. Her last therapist had said her opinion was due to childhood trauma. Her mother had died when she was young although she had prayed so hard, harder than she had ever done, yet, the disease had eaten away at her till Maggie had given up.

Maggie with the hair like moonlight and her dark brown skin had been beloved all her life. Everyone who had ever met her had described her as having 'a sunny disposition'. Maggie had always found a way to be happy, content with whatever little they had and they didn't have so much after Terry had left her when she got pregnant with Rowena and her health had failed.

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Meeting Bob at their favorite ice cream stand, she apologized profusely for being late. She had been lost in her memories for a while and hadn't realized the time. By the time she had eventually come out of her reverie, she was almost late.

"It's no problem, babe plus I only just got here", he said. Rowena looked up and only just then saw the shadows under his eyes. "Are you ok?", she asked looking him all over. Bob gulped "I have something to tell you", he said as he looked away. "Say it then, you know you can tell me anything", she said and continued "it's not like you could say you were leaving me". Shock crossed her face when Bob just continued looking at her.

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"You are leaving", she said. "You know I would never do anything to hurt you but Nelly and I think we should move to New York, at least anywhere else would be better than this dreary city where we earn pennies. "But, but, New York is expensive and overcrowded, that's what we said", Rowena countered. "Yes but Nelly and I made this decision together, we have to think about what's best for our family", Bob said quietly almost whispering the last part. "Family??", Rowena asked with confusion written all over her face. "Yes, we are having a baby", Bob replied looking down to avoid looking at Rowena's shocked face. He knew she would be shocked but the ensuing silence was what he wasn't prepared for.

On the other hand, Rowena had been shocked into silence, she knew he would have to leave someday to make a better living for himself but he was having a baby and with Nelly??, she didn't even know they were still together. Bob flirted with anything that looked feminine so she was surprised he was able to stay faithful long enough to get Nelly pregnant. Her thoughts were running wild and she let them, she was still in shock, she didn't know what to think, say or do. She would be alone once he leaves, there would be nothing at her job to look forward, their colleagues would have all the excuses they needed to ostracize her. Bob was what made the workplace bearable, Bob was why she wasn't going insane in this cold place, Bob was the only friend she had. She almost hated Nelly in this moment.

Out loud, she said "Congratulations on the baby, I wish you both happiness" then got up to leave. "Come on, Row, don't be like this, we aren't even leaving yet", Bob said holding her hand trying to stop her from leaving. Still dazed, she ripped her hand free of his grip and walked away. "Row, Row, lookout", he yelled out as he saw her walk into oncoming traffic.

Suddenly, Rowena felt herself being pulled back into someone's warm chest, the stranger's chest felt like home. Bob's voice saying thanks to the stranger and asking her "are you alright" brought her out of her daze. Looking around, she realized what had happened, she got out of the stranger's arms, turned around to say thanks and was shocked for the second time in the past hour. It was the blue-eyed stranger she had saved just yesterday and yes, there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes that she couldn't seem to look away from.

He straightened and moved away from her, nodded at Bob and looked back at her with that daunting smile of his and said "Now we are even but I don't see my flowers", he pretended to look all over her for the flowers earning a smile from Rowena and a frown from Bob. "We are still in traffic, people", Bob said to draw their attention. "Yes, we are", the blue-eyed stranger looked around and said then added to Rowena as he made to walk away "take care" then turned to leave in the opposite direction looking back with that dangerous smile of his.

"What was that", Bob questioned as he and Rowena made to leave. "It was nothing", Rowena said smiling to herself, Bob's news long forgotten, only the stranger's blue eyes and smile was on her mind.

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Fate smiled as she watched the stranger go.

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