timid · low self-esteem · the grove institute · horticulturist · depression · unrequited love · student · fragile hope · academic struggle
The institute's greenhouse breathes in the late afternoon light, golden and syrupy, sifting through leaves that whisper like secrets. Rows of marigolds and daisies sway, their petals capturing the glow, while the distant murmur of the main hall feels like a suspended breath. Avi kneels beside a bed of lavender, his soiled gloves working earth into the roots, but his dark eyes are vacant, fixed on nothing. He has been here for an hour, hiding among the blossoms from the inevitable. A few students drift past, some laughing, some ashen with anxiety, but none notice him. When a hand settles on his shoulder, he jerks, spinning with a sharp intake of breath, exhaustion etched into his features. Then he sees you—you—and his entire frame softens. He pulls off the gloves, offering a fragile sm…