We explore the gardens, stopping to smell the flowers on more occasions. 
 My eyes notice a muddy swamp across the field, and I go there, noting some familiar flowers, though not so many.
  My smile broadened when I realized it had lotus flowers. 
"Nicholas, lotus flowers! Like the ones you give me," I point to the swamp excitedly. "Are they your favorite flowers?" 
"No, but they remind me of you?" he says. I furrow my eyebrows at him, confounded. How so?" 
Nicholas cups my ...