“You still trust me, right?” Noah has his hands on my shoulders and I nod as he guides me, nudging me left then right in a gentle and determined manner. Noah is a great guy. We’ve known each other for a few years, and he has the kind of presence that’s soothing and comforting.

“I wouldn’t have let you put the blindfold on if I didn’t.”

“Not much further,” he says.

Wherever we’re going, whatever direction we’re headed, we’re close to reaching the finish line, and Henry’s got to be there.

Right?

Unless this is a big game to avoid having a serious conversation.

No. I doubt that’s right. This afternoon has taken a lot of thought and effort. Henry isn’t doing this for fun.

He’s doing it because he knows we need to have a talk about us. And the future.

What the hell am I going to say?

And what do I want to hear in return?

My foot connects with something solid and I grimace at the painful contact, my toes throbbing. “A little warning next time?” I joke, realizing too late I’ve hit a step.

“Sorry! I was looking at my phone. We have about 20 stairs going up.”

“20?!” I slowly raise my foot then lower it, ascending the elevated slabs cautiously. I lift my leg as high as possible to avoid any more injuries, and I hear him chuckle beside me, holding my elbow and making sure I don’t fall.

“We made it.” Noah loosens the blindfold from the back of my hair. Once it’s removed, it takes a minute to piece together where I am.

“The history museum?” I ask. The massive white banner hanging above us billows in the wind. “What are we doing here?”

“You’ll see,” he says, smiling secretively. He opens the unlocked door despite it being after hours, holding it ajar for me. I step inside carefully, on high alert. The building is empty and silent.

Noah leads me into the atrium and I gasp. The entire floor is covered in sunflowers, scattered across the black marble and reaching every corner of the space. Everywhere I look, there’s vibrant yellow, long stems stacked on top of each other, two or three flowers high.

Spinning around, I take in the contrast of the bright display against the dark columns rising toward the ceiling high above me. Only a handful of dull lights are turned on, casting a soft, welcoming glow. Upon completion of my turn, I find Noah has disappeared from sight, and I’m alone.

I swallow, nerves on fire.

Two paths. Two paths.

I search for the hidden puzzle.

There.

I walk to my left, finding something different on the ground, unmarked and in a trail heading toward an illuminated exit sign. Squatting down, I pick up the mysterious object.

Chocolate chip cookies.