Always (Claudia finds a rose)

With my heart still beating wildly under my night clothes, I inched my head
up to get another look at the man. Slowly, ever so slowly, I peered over the
window sill. The man was gone!


I whipped my head around, searching as far as I could for any sign of him,
but there was no one. My heart sank, confusing me. Was I disappointed that he
had gone? No, but I did wonder who he was.


My hand fell upon something soft on the window sill. There, waiting just for
me, was a perfect red rose. I picked the flower up gently with trembling
fingers. My eyes widened as I took in the beauty of the rose and yet, who had
placed it at my window? And how had they gotten up here?***