Without responding to the angry accusations, the young man slowly reached into the pocket of his worn jacket.
Guests watched nervously.
Some feared he might pull out a weapon.
Instead...
He removed a single fresh white daisy.
Perfect.
Untouched by the mud covering the rest of his clothes.
He carefully walked toward Olivia.
Richard tried to block his path.
Security guards stepped forward.
Olivia quietly raised her hand.
"Wait."
The stranger knelt beside her wheelchair.
He gently held out the flower.
"Do you remember this?"
Olivia stared at the daisy.
Tears immediately filled her eyes.
"When we were kids..."
"You always picked daisies for me."
The stranger smiled.
"My grandmother said they helped people remember hope."
Richard looked confused.
"You know each other?"
Olivia nodded through tears.
"This is Noah."
"My best friend."
Before her accident, they had spent every summer exploring nearby fields filled with wildflowers.
After Olivia's injury, Noah's family moved away following financial hardship.
Neither had seen each other in years.
Noah looked into her eyes.
"You once promised me something."
Olivia whispered,
"I remember."