I was outside earlier having a smoke. A period of time went by time after I had stepped out and lit up. I heard a high pitched laugh followed by a few chuckles. I could see a group of kids j- walking 22nd Ave. I walked around the corner to get a better view. They started to skip and play games with one another. Publicly teasing each other like they wanted more. Surprisingly the girl pulled her skirt up the side of her thigh to give him a slight peek. The guy reacted quickly by grabbing her and pulling her close until her body met his. Young lovers testing the limits. I smiled and began to turn away until they started to kiss and he pulls out a flower from his back pocket to give to her but she pulls away to keep walking. Standing there hoping she'd turn back to see why he had stopped. She did and then noticed he had a small flower in his grip. She walks up and kisses him. Taking the flower and tossing it against the sidewalk. They locked lips for a while then continued on up the street. I walked over to where she threw the flower. It was smashed up against the sidewalk. I sat there thinking about the guys I've dated and how not one ever thought about giving me a flower. That boy who clearly liked her enough to give her one has just been tossed onto the sidewalk. All of the sudden I remembered I'd forgotten the time. I couldn't stay out there forever. It was time to return to work so I headed in. I left the boys flower beside my cigarette smashed up against the sidewalk. A lover and a hopeless romantic. They always end up in the shadows of those who are unable to love at all.