“I want a Hate-Bouquet. You do those?” A silence followed his question, and it lasted a little too long. He repeated, and no, Daphne didn’t. It wasn’t what her flower-shop was for. She was Daphne O’Dea, local green-finger, owner of FLOWERS-FOR-FRIENDS. Hate wasn’t what she grew. 

However, for some reason, Daphne’s tongue had slipped, and she responded with a “Yes.” 

Oops. 

What unsettled Daphne more than the request itself, was the WAY this stranger had asked. Lingering underneath the words was an insidiousness, an unnerving intent. Both customer and question were unwelcome in her flower shop.

“I need them to repeat a message, a very SPECIFIC message. Can they?” the man asked, in a similar sinister tone. Again, Daphne had panicked and responded with “Yes. The Whisper-Lilies can.” 

The man leant in, as if to reveal a secret. “My…friend, just came out of surgery. Extended Bifrontal Craniotomy. Everyone’s so happy for them. So many get-well flowers. I want the Lilies to give them THIS message, and ONLY at night, after visiting hours, okay? I only want THEM to hear it.” 

The stranger gave Daphne a handwritten note, and she nodded, her neck disobeyed her much as her mouth had. She gave the man the order-total and told him it’d be ready the next day. The customer gave her a haunting smile that lingered in her mind long after they had left. 

It wasn’t really until THAT very moment, when the customer had left, after hearing THAT request, that she had ever thought about intent. 

Flowers in this place, which is like here but not quite, naturally made sounds, ones that very-much sounded like words. They could be trained to say pretty much whatever a person wanted, and most people used this fact for gift-giving. For cute and funny birthday messages, for songs, for poetry recitations to friends, family, and colleagues. 

Never had she thought that someone would want to use her gifts for anything less than wholesome. This was all meant to be harmless, fun, safe. 

She read the note and what she’d agreed to: 

“It wasn’t enough. They didn’t get it all. You’re still dying.”