All the Colors of the Dark

On a white Saturday, Jimmy Walters turned up with a clutch of frost flowers tied off with purple ribbon.

Saint told Norma she did not want to see him.

"He's resilient," Norma said, tugging her out of bed.

"So is influenza."

As they strolled in the snow Jimmy pointed to the stems and told her of crownbeard and dittany.

"Why did you bring these?" she asked.

"I just wanted to show you that sometimes things survive despite the harshest of odds."

Excerpt from All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker