Girl Get Rid Of That Jerk by Melissa Johns

The roses were vibrant, bursting with bold colors and full of life. Their presence carried a romantic whisper: you casually drift through my dreams, turning my heart into a fragrant garden.

After arranging the flowers, Allison recalled the nurse mentioning that Joshua had been there just half an hour ago. The thought made her heart race. Could he still be around? Once the idea took root, she couldn't shake the urge to find out.

She pushed open the door and hurried towards the elevator. It was only seven in the morning, but the sun was already starting to heat things up. In her light lavender dress, Allison stepped out of the elevator and briskly made her way to the hospital's outdoor parking lot.

Within a few minutes, she spotted a familiar figure and slowed down. Joshua hadn't left yet. He was leaning against a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, head down, with a cigarette in hand. Wisps of smoke curled up lazily. Oblivious to Allison watching him from a short distance, he seemed lost in thought, far removed from the world's chaos. The morning light softened his features, giving him a gentle glow.

It had been days since she last saw him, and Allison's breath caught as she moved closer. Joshua looked up, meeting her gaze, and seemed momentarily surprised. Quickly, he stubbed out the cigarette and tossed it into a trash can nearby. Allison never liked the smell of smoke, and Joshua used to avoid it too. But with recent chaos in the Fisher family, balancing family and company duties without a break, he had turned to smoking and drinking to cope. Missing Allison deeply but unable to rekindle their past closeness, he found solace in these habits -though he avoided drinking excessively to stay in control. Smoking became his outlet when longing for her overwhelmed him.

As Allison approached, Joshua instinctively stepped back. "Don't come too close, I reek of smoke," he said, concern in his voice. He lowered his eyes, "I'm sorry, I just needed to take the edge off."

"It's alright," Allison replied softly, her eyes meeting his. "Thanks for the flowers. They're beautiful."

like them," he said, his voice deep

in her throat. Joshua, reading her unspoken question,

acknowledging his thoughtfulness. Silence lingered between them, neither

should head back. Take care on your

replied, his

call from Olivia. "Allie,

to talk

tone unusually

wondered what could be so

free, what's up?"

words carefully.

bring her up now? "Yeah, I remember her vaguely. We weren't close, and she went abroad, didn't