Greta watched a tear track through the dust on his cheek. She realized then that he hadn't just been stubborn; he had been carrying the weight of those dead roses like a lead weight in his chest.
She reached out and took his hand. "Es tut mir auch leid," she replied— It does me sorrow, too. Es Tut Mir Leid
He didn’t grab his coat. He simply walked out into the cold. Without a word, he lifted the wood, cleared the walkway, and stood there, dripping wet. Greta watched a tear track through the dust on his cheek
The debt was cleared. The clocks in the shop didn't stop ticking, and the roses didn't magically bloom, but for the first time in thirty years, the air in Oakhaven felt light enough to breathe. he lifted the wood