Petals and Plot Twists (Only Magic in the Building)

by Jenny Proctor

To anyone who has ever wished on a birthday candle or tried to blow away dandelion fluff all in one breath or whispered dreams into a night sky streaked with shooting stars. Believing in a little bit of magic is fun. But don’t forget—the real magic has always been you.

If my life were a romantic comedy, I’m not sure I’d be the main character. I have more of a quirky sidekick vibe. Bubbly, supportive personality. Big hair. A treasure trove of funny anecdotes—mostly dating mishaps—to make the main character feel good about her own life and prospects. I do want to fall in love. More than anything. I just haven’t figured out the secret. I haven’t figured out how to capture that main character energy. Or maybe the problem is that I haven’t found my hero. If he’s even out there at all.

Petunias don’t really have main character energy either. They’re incredible flowers. Easy to grow and a great complement to other plants since they come in so many colors. But they’re never going to be the showstopper. The main feature. They’re a sidekick. Just like me.

knowing The Serendipity, the flower could have just poofed into existence.

I also felt safer around Peter than I did anyone else.

“Maybe the guy you’re supposed to be with isn’t on a dating app. Maybe he’s someone you already know.” He lifts a hand and hooks it around the back of his neck. “Someone you work with, maybe. Or…I don’t know. Someone you met in school.”

“Just open your eyes a little. Maybe you’ll see someone in a new light.”

Which is why, when all evidence indicates my emotions will not be returned, it makes no logical sense for me to be in love with my best friend.

And yet, here I am. Soaking up every minute of her company.

The more I think about my future, the more I’m coming to accept the uncomfortable reality that if I am ever going to fall in love with someone else, Sophie’s going to have to break my heart first. And that won’t ever happen if I don’t try.

Though I cannot prove as much, my personal feeling is the flower appears when it’s needed. When lonely hearts need a helping hand or lovers need a nudge in the right direction.

What if this is it? What if it’s finally my turn? My main character moment.

The love flower in my garden is going to help me find my soulmate. I just have to figure out how to use it.

I’m already a hundred percent certain that if Sophie lets me, I’ll love her forever.

When in doubt, eat chocolate. One of life’s many mottos.

I already had crème brûlée at the restaurant, and I don’t need a second dessert. But I do need to feed my denial. And what better way to do that than brownies?

“When you’ve dreamed of kissing someone for such a long time, when it finally happens, it takes a moment for the shock to wear off.”

Her touch is a brand on my skin, and I’m not sure I can ever go back to a day when I don’t belong to her.

“Love is never a guarantee, but I’m not sure it’s supposed to be. It’s an action. If we want to be the Hathaways, still in love when we’re old and gray, then we do the work. We make it happen.”

“Your heart is so big and so pure. You’ve always been made for loving people, for giving people your whole heart.”

I do deserve the biggest, brightest, best kind of love. And I know exactly where to find it.

“I don’t understand why the flower bloomed for the wrong man. I really wanted it to work for me, and I believed that it would. But I’m a grown woman, with a heart and mind of my own. I know what I want. Who I want. I don’t have any doubts about that.”

You needed this, Soph. You needed to believe in yourself more than you believed in the flower. I have zero regrets for keeping Peter’s secret.”

“Peter, I’m in love with you,”

I love the softness of her lips, the wildness of her curly hair, the shape of her body. I love her exuberance and her cheerful nature and the joy she brings to everyone she meets. I love her eye for color and design. I love that she’s so good at growing things and making spaces beautiful. I love that she’s never given up on me. Even when I’m anti-social. When I’m too boring or too logical or too scientific. She still sees the good in me. And she reminds me of that good like it's second nature. Like my worth is so obvious, she shouldn’t even need to say it out loud. But she says it out loud anyway because that’s Sophie’s way. To lift and encourage and make people feel good.

he would have done a month ago, order food based on what he knows I like, but it feels different now that we’re together. Like I’m so incredibly lucky that I get to have my very best friend be my boyfriend, too. I’ll never take that for granted.

I smile, then I kiss him again. Because making his wishes come true is exactly what a main character would do.

Love isn’t magic, it’s an action. And we’re doing the work of loving each other.” He kisses me one more time. “Loving you isn’t work, Sophie. It’s like breathing.”