I found myself a table at a nearby café and sat down to wait for Essie.

I had ordered a coffee and a scone and slowly worked my way through them while scrolling on my phone.

Occasionally a new message of well wishes or a thank you would ding in, but as time went on they grew more and more infrequent.

I couldn’t help a wan smile.

It felt better to move on from this incident than I’d imagined.

After today’s eye examination I felt much less nervous about my upcoming examination as well.

Perhaps I had overreacted a bit.

Eventually Essie pulled up outside and I went to join her.

“How’d it go?” she asked the moment I got in the car.

“Well, I think.” I replied. “My vision hasn’t faltered as much as I had feared.”

“I told you!” Essie exclaimed triumphantly, and I massaged my right ear at the sheer volume of her voice.

“I know, and I’m sorry.” I replied. “I’ve been freaking out over nothing. But it isn’t over just yet.”

“Listen, you’ll nail those examinations too, whenever they are.”

“Next Thursday.” I said, and Essie shot me a shocked glance.

“That soon?” she asked.

“I’d rather have it over with before I stop feeling like a pilot.” I noted, glancing out the window.

“Oh, come off it.” Essie shot back. “You’ve got that nonsense engrained into your memory.”

I gave a quick laugh.

“You’re not wrong, I suppose.” I said. “In all seriousness, though, I would like to just get it over with. Waiting is just going to make me nervous.”

“Fair.” Essie said. “How long will it take?”

“I dunno…” I sighed. “A few weeks at least. They’ve got to be thorough.”

“Well, let’s set up a date once you’re through.” Essie said. “A fancy dinner or something of the sort.”

“Sure.” I replied.

We pulled up at a quaint little flowershop a few minutes later, and Cato came outside to greet us as we exited the car.

Despite being twins, Essie and Cato could not have looked more different.

Cato with his tall, slim figure, tousled dyed hair – today it was purple – tattoos and piercings, and Essie with her squatter, more rounded form, natural brown hair and dimpled cheeks.

If you didn’t already know, you’d have never guessed they were related, let alone twins!

“Avery!” Cato stepped over to give me a hug. “Good to see you again! Are you doing well?”

He looked me over, and I noticed the twitch of pity on his face I had come to expect at this point.

“Well enough, Cato. How are you?”

“Fantastic!” Cato replied, taking the lead as he walked back inside, and I wasn’t quite sure if that was an answer or just a remark.

“So, you had a job for me, no?”

He placed himself behind the counter and leaned his hands on the rough wooden top.

“Hello, brother.” Essie shot in, and Cato turned his gaze to her. “Please feel free to further ignore me. I don’t mind.”

Cato laughed.

“Well, I see you on a more regular basis than them!” He replied, waving a hand toward me.

“In fact, you stopped by just a few days back!”

“Settle down, children.” I remarked, and the siblings paused their banter.

Cato’s shop had an idyllic, vintage feel to it. Worn wood, old and repurposed furnishing, it gave a relaxing rural feel in the middle of London.

“Anyway, flowers?” Cato looked to me again. “Thank you gifts? Memento?”

“Er, yeah…” I said, handing over a bag of – by now – dried flowers. “I was hoping you could do something with these. We did our best to preserve them.”

“I gave them the treatment you asked me to.” Essie chimed in, as her brother gave the flowers a look.

“The stems are too stiff to work with, but if you want, I can transfer the blooms onto wire and make something with them?”

He looked at me.

“What was it you had in mind?”

I shrugged.

“I’m not sure, exactly… I thought a crown might be cool, but perhaps I should go for a more traditional memento.”

As I spoke, Cato seemed to be sizing up my head.

“We can work with a crown, sure!” he said. “It would make for a cute headpiece on special occasions!”

He rummaged through the drawers and pulled out a measuring tape.

“Here.” He said, waving me over. “Let’s get an accurate measurement of your head. Your hair makes it difficult to eyeball the size.”

He looped the tape around my head and then nodded to himself.

“With these numbers…” he muttered. “And the amount of flowers we’ve got… Yes.”

He smiled.

“I think we’re good to go. When do you want it done?”

“At your convenience.” I replied, pulling my wallet from my pocket. “How much will it be?”

Cato remained silent for a moment, gaze passing from me to Essie, who shrugged.

“We can sort the price out once it’s finished.” He eventually replied. “I’ll be needing some time to think and sketch up some ideas.”

“Thanks, Cato.” I smiled. “Suppose we should get out of your hair, then. Why don’t you stop by for some tea later?”

“I’ll let you know when I’m free.” Cato replied.