it started with a rose

Marika spent her first summer back in Minnesota working for Bryan and Melissa in their soap shop at the local Renaissance Festival. Zach also worked there, pulling people around the festival in rickshaws called cabs. Every day at 11:30am, the cabs would meet by a tree outside of the soap shop. Marika coincidentally could always be found leaning on the entry to the shop staring at Zach. On the final weekend of the festival Marika summoned up her courage and talked one of the flower sellers into delivering a rose to the “blonde cab guy” from her. When Zach received the rose he immediately worked his way over to Marika’s shop. He walked in with a faux swagger, and saw Marika for the first time. He was so nervous, he left after only a few words and even forgot to get any information besides her name. He came back the next day and she gave him her number. During the coming weeks, they talked constantly, learning that they had innumerable things in common. So much so that they couldn’t shake the feeling that it couldn’t be true. Marika was beginning to wonder if it was possible to be catfished by someone you’ve already met in person. However, after their first date, they both knew they found someone special. After the first month, they were inseparable. After their first year, they both knew there wouldn’t be anyone else for them.