The cab pulled up by the gates of the cemetery. A young man stepped out and walked over to the woman selling flowers by the entrance.
“Twelve tulips, please,” he said quietly.
After paying in pounds, he bowed his head slightly and made his way through the rows of graves.
A year ago, Daniel wouldve called himself the luckiest man alive. He had lovereal, deep lovewith his fiancée, Katie. But everything changed in an instant. One reckless driver, one wrong turn, and she was gone.
It took him a month just to function again. His mates from the police station dragged him back to some semblance of normalcy, bit by bit.
Now, standing by her grave, he spotted Katies mum sitting on a bench nearby.
“Hello, Aunt Maureen,” he managed.
“Oh, Daniel, love,” she whispered, rushing to hug him, burying her face in his chest as tears spilled over.
He stared at the headstoneKaties smiling photo etched into the marble.
When Maureen finally composed herself, she helped him arrange the flowers just right. Silence stretched between them before she spoke again.
“You you havent found anyone else yet, have you?”
“No. I cant forget her. Its like shes still calling to me somehow.”
Maureen nodded, eyes downcast. That daythe hospital, the white sheets, the way she and her husband had collapsed to their kneesit was all still a blur of grief.
She turned to say something to Daniel but stopped when she saw the raw pain in his expression.
Hed graduated from the police academy two years back, earned his stripes as a sergeant. Still lived with his parents. But since Katies death, the whole family had been stuck in this awful limbo. Every weekend, hed lock himself in his room, lost in memories.
This Saturday was no different.
“Daniel, dinners ready,” his mum called as he shuffled inside.
He nodded, washed up, and sat at the table. His mum hesitated before speaking.
“Your dad and I visited your grandparents graves today” She trailed off when she saw his face darken.
“I went to see Katie too.”
“Sweetheart, its been a year. Shes not coming back. You have to move forward.”
“I cant, Mum. Its like shes still there, waiting for me.”
“Daniel, dont say things like that,” his mum breathed, alarmed.
“Dont worry. I know you and Dad want me to settle down, but not yet.”
He finished eating and retreated to his room.
Being a cop meant erratic hourssometimes night shifts, sometimes emergencies. Daniel lay down, exhausted, and fell asleep without realizing it.
He dreamed of Katie calling his name. Not unusualbut this time felt different. Urgent, like she was in trouble, begging him to come.
He jolted awake and bolted for the door.
“Daniel, whats wrong?” his mum called after him.
“Just going for a walk.”
He stumbled outside, his feet carrying him on autopilot.
The park was empty except for a group of ladsclearly drunkcornering a terrified girl.
“Whats going on here?” Daniel barked, stepping between them.
Her scared eyes latched onto his, pleading.
“Mind your own business, mate,” one of the lads snarled, shoving him.
Bad move. Daniel had him on the ground in seconds.
“Take your friend and go. Now,” he ordered, voice steel.
They scrambled to obey, dragging their mate away.
The girl stood frozen, clutching her chest, then fumbled for a pill and slipped it under her tongue. Tears welled up as she gasped.
“Easy, youre safe,” Daniel said gently, guiding her to a bench.
“Th-thank you,” she stammered.
“Let me walk you home.”
As they walked, she calmed enough to speak.
“Im Emily,” she whispered.
“Daniel. What happened back there?”
“II walk here every evening. Doctors orders. But those lads”
“Got it. Your heart?”
“Born with a defect. A year ago, it just stopped. Had surgery. Im better now, they say.”
As she spoke, Daniel felt something strangea lightness, like Katie was right there beside him.
They reached a modern block of flats.
“This is me,” Emily murmured, glancing up at him shyly.
“Glad we met,” he said.
“Daniel would you like to come up? Meet my mum?”
He couldnt hide his grin. “Yeah. Yeah, I would.”
Her flat was nicetasteful, expensive. Her mum stepped out, blinking in surprise at her daughters flushed face and the stranger beside her.
“Mum, this is Daniel. He saved me from some lads in the park.”
“Sarah,” the woman introduced herself, smiling. “Come through, tell me what happened.”
Over tea, Emily recounted everything, her mums expression shifting from shock to relief.
“You shouldnt walk there alone anymore,” Sarah chided gently before turning to Daniel. “Howd you end up there?”
“My heart led me,” he joked weakly.
“And what do you do?”
“Police.”
“Ah. Explains how you handled those lads.” She hesitated. “Youre not married?”
“No.” Her eyes narrowed slightlytoo handsome, too single.
“Twenty-five next month,” he added, sensing her suspicion. Then, quieter, “I was engaged. She died a year ago.”
Sarahs face fell. “Oh, Daniel. Im so sorry.”
The rest of tea was quiet. When they finished, Daniel stood.
“Thanks for this. I should go.” He smiled at Emilys hesitant look. “Lets swap numbers. If you ever need help, call me.”
That night, sleep wouldnt come.
*Whats happening to me? Walking with her it was like I could hear Katies heartbeat again.*
He closed his eyesbut for the first time, Katies face blurred. Instead, Emilys smile flickered in his mind.
He didnt sleep until long past midnight.
The next morning, he shaved, washed, then grabbed his phone and dialed without thinking.
“Hello?” Emilys voice was soft, surprised.
“Hey. Fancy a walk? Maybe grab something from the shop?”
When he arrived, she was waiting, biting her lip like she wanted to hug him but didnt dare.
“Hi, Emily.”
“Morning, Daniel.”
Her mum appeared in the doorway.
“Sarah,” Daniel nodded.
“Mum, were just popping out,” Emily said.
“Go on, then. Have fun.”
Daniel took her back to his place. His mum nearly dropped the plates when she saw them.
“Come in, come in! Lunch is ready.”
“Mum, this is Emily,” Daniel said, grinning.
“Pleasure,” his mum gushed, like shed forgotten how to breathe.
His dad pretended to be stern, but a smile cracked through.
Over lunch, Emily charmed them effortlessly. After, she helped clear up, chatting away like shed known them forever.
Daniel nudged her. “Come see my room.”
He pushed the door open
Emily froze.
A photo on the wall: Daniel and Katie, arms around each other, laughing.
“Emily? Whats wrong?”
“Thats Katie.”
“You knew her?”
“A year ago, I was dying. She didnt make it. The transplant”
*Oh God.*
Daniels breath vanished. “You have her heart?”
Emily nodded, tears spilling.
He stared at herseeing Katie in her smile, her eyes, the way she held herself.
Maybe there was a plan after all. Maybe this was how the universe brought her back to him.
He pulled Emily close.
“Im not losing you again,” he whispered.
This time, he wouldnt let go.
