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.

She reached out and took his hand. "Es tut mir auch leid," she replied— It does me sorrow, too.

He looked at his boots, then at the empty space where the roses used to be. "Greta," he began, his voice raspy. " Es tut mir leid. "