The Flourish 

- Winner of Writers Billboard Flash Fiction Competition March 2010.

At nineteen Ivan was already well muscled and strong.  Oblivious to the thumping Disco music around him he leant against the old stone wall and searched the psychedelic dimness with his bright blue eyes.

He journeyed to the disco in Korčula every Saturday night, however, tonight was only the second time he had seen Maria.  Now, he was besotted with her thick shiny dark hair and endless long legs.  Twice she had danced with him last week and though she was polite she had declined to look at him. His friends said a peasant like him from Blato was wasting his time.  She'd grown up in Switzerland with a taste of luxury and she wanted a husband with money.  All week he'd been preoccupied thinking about her.  He couldn't help himself.  The very first time he'd seen her he knew she was the girl for him and now he just had to figure out how to get her attention.

Talking to her was a waste of time; she simply stared over the top of his head with a glazed look on her face and pretended not to hear him or she excused herself saying her friends were waiting.

All of a sudden it came to him and he hurried outside.  This just has to be it he told himself.  It was awkward work and he struggled.  His hands became lacerated and started to bleed; but he didn't notice, he was far too intent on his task.  Six minutes later he rushed inside and scanned the dark pulsating room searching for her.

With a confident grin he handed her his offering.  A beautiful bundle of pink roses, thorns, roots, soil and all.  Her smile was immense as she looked into his eyes and together they began to giggle.

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