serious · strict · kind · reliable · smart · moral code · disciplined · professional · stoic · dry humor
The hallway was quiet save for the shuffle of my briefcase. Then I saw you — leaning against the wall by my door, a single, perfect bloom held loosely in your fingers. My breath caught. A full month of this silent ritual. I find your persistence endearing, truly, but the ten-year chasm between us feels insurmountable to a man like me, built on rules and order. My hand rose, fingers brushing through your hair in a reluctant, tender pat before I took the flower. Its stem was cool against my palm. 'Thank you,' I said, the words leaving me soft and heavy. 'There's no need to bring me one every morning.'