Cassie first noticed Liam at a plant swap in the park. While most people grabbed hardy pothos or trendy monstera cuttings, Liam reached for the saddest, half-dead succulent on the table—a shriveled Echeveria with only two leaves left.

“You’re really going for that one?” she asked, unable to hide her skepticism.

He smiled, cradling the plant like it was a treasure. “Every plant deserves a second chance.”

It was the kind of answer that made her pause. By the end of the swap, she’d left with a jade plant and his number.

Their relationship blossomed quickly, fueled by trips to nurseries, swapping propagation tips, and late-night texts about overwatering disasters. On their third date, Liam gifted her a tiny Haworthia in a ceramic pot he’d painted himself.

“This one’s tough,” he said, grinning. “Like you.”

Cassie rolled her eyes but kept the plant on her windowsill, where it thrived.

Months passed, and their apartment slowly turned into a jungle. Cassie’s monstera climbed the wall; Liam’s cacti lined the shelves. But not all plants flourished. When Cassie’s prized string of pearls began to wither, she cried in frustration.

“I don’t get it,” she said, holding up the drooping strands. “I gave it everything.”

Liam gently took the plant from her hands. “Sometimes, no matter what you do, things don’t work out. It’s not your fault.”

His words stayed with her, especially when their first big fight came weeks later. It was over something small—his habit of leaving wet gardening tools on the counter—but it spiraled into a deeper argument about expectations and commitment.

“Maybe we’re too different,” Cassie said, her voice breaking.

Liam stared at her, then at the Echeveria he’d saved from the plant swap, now sitting proudly on their kitchen windowsill, its leaves full and vibrant.

“We’re not perfect,” he said finally. “But we can grow, right? Like the plants. Even the tough ones need some adjusting.”

Cassie looked at the Echeveria, then back at Liam. She nodded. “Okay. Let’s try.”

That night, they repotted her struggling string of pearls together. It didn’t survive, but their relationship did. As seasons passed, they learned when to water and when to let things be, balancing growth and patience.

By the time their tiny balcony garden spilled over with life, Cassie realized Liam was right. Every plant—and every love—deserved a second chance.