Orchids or Sunflowers

c h a p t e r 2

I was coming out of the school campus again with my earbuds on when I was fascinated by the free-standing hoodie in front of the main gate.
Slowly, in a slight forward bend, I went around it to find in it the little girl from before.

,,Ya! You are the crosswalk lady!" She raised her tiny finger to point at me and made a small jump.
The hoodie she was wearing was more than big and she was more than adorable.

,,Have you been lost?" I crouched in front of her and checked her with my eyes.

,,No, I'm just waiting for my brother!"

,,Your brother is running away from you, little one?" I frowned and made sure she had a jacket under the hoodie.

She laughed a little. ,,You're really funny!"

,,I gotta go now, but ... you know what? Here is my number-" I quickly pulled a pen out of my bag and wrote my contact on her palm. ,,text me when your brother comes, allright?"

I had a strange feeling about her "brother", so I wanted to be sure.

,,Right-oh!" She gave me a wide smile before I turned to leave.

I turned to her a few more times, just to see how she waved at me. When I saw my bus coming to the nearest stop, I ran a little to catch it.

I found a seat all the way back and played my music louder.
After a few minutes, I got off in front of the complex, which housed several buildings.

I headed for the nearest and I went straight to the front desk.

,,Lovely afternoon, Mrs. Kwack." I smiled at a middle-aged woman standing behind a high counter.

,,Oh, Millie! I need you to go help prepare another room. An unexpected patient comes to us. It is also necessary to classify these papers and also ...! Ah, I know all this stress and rush is part and parcel of this profession, but still-"

,,Mrs. Kwack, you need to stop burning the candle at both ends." A worried look settled on my face. ,,I'll help you with everything you need."

,,Millie, you are a really worth your weight in gold." She breathed a sigh of relief. Then, with a tired look, she went over all the people who hadn't stopped even for a second.
Nurses went with and without patients, with tools, but some ran away in an emergency.

I went to this psychiatric clinic regularly so that I could be helpful. I already knew some of the patients more personally than others, and I was glad to see more progress with each of my visits.

,,So lets get down the business." I smiled again and, with my newfound zeal, went to the elevators.

,,Room number one hundred two!" She still managed to shout behind me, after which I raised my hand above me and showed a raised thumb.

As I waited for the incoming elevator, my cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I took it between my fingers and looked at the lockscreen.

I found a message there from a little girl who wrote in it that she was already on her way home with her brother. She also wrote her name at the end, Ma-Ri. This name was just made for her, as pretty as she was.

Another message arrived in a few seconds. She asked if she could ever come see me.
I responded her with a smile on my lips that I had a part-time job over the weekend, but she could come see me at school again.

Then she immediately asked me where I was working, so I text her a name of a cozy café. Right after that, I was forced to put down my phone and start preparing the room.

After not very short hours, I finally had time for a break, which I took to visit.
I knocked on the door of one of the rooms on the third floor and after a short "come in!" I entered the bottom.

There were two older men sitting on wooden chairs playing cards without a care in the world.

,,Hello, my dear!" One of them greeted me without looking at me.

,,How did you know it was me?"

,,The nurses don't knock and you're the only one who visits the both of us." He responded.

I looked at the other man who was in his own world as always. ,,How is he doing?"

,,He still speaks only fictional language and does not want to respond to ours." He said calmly, then angrily threw the cards in the table.
,,But he can play this game perfectly!" he said after losing several times in a row probably.

,,And you?" after a small nod, I asked.

He shrugged and looked out the window.

,,Haven't you contacted your daughter yet?"

,,No."

I frowned at his indifferent expression, but preferred to change the subject.

,,The next time I come, I can take you for a walk, what do you say?"

He turned to me again and nodded with a smile. ,,That would be nice of you, my dear."

Paradoxically, this place made me be in high spirits. One would say that this is where I can't get gratitude. But that's the exact opposite. These people know not only to give me thanks, but also the feeling of necessity that I am not here for extra. And my help is valued here.

In a few moments I had to go back to the work which I had finished late in the evening.

I got off the bus again at a stop near my school and started walking home.
As I walked through a small park, I heard a loud swearing. The girl in front of me was looking at her scattered things, which were all over the sidewalk.
Naturally I started collecting her things with that girl.
But she immediately snatched the first thing I grabbed and gave me one nasty look.

I remained scalded for a while, while she quickly got back on her feet, along with the collected items.

However, I noticed red mascara on the ground, which the girl forgot. I picked it up quickly and stood up.
I still managed to address her, and when she turned with a puzzled look, I handed her the matter.

I realized that everyone can have a bad day and only a small drop is enough for a complete explosion.
And maybe it was me that drop for this brunette.

When she took it from me, I gave her a small bow with a faint smile. Then I had no choice but to continue on my journey, so I turned in the original direction in which I was headed.
But I didn't expect the person standing just behind me, whom I almost bumped into.

,,I apologise." It came out of my lips.

,,Do not, Millie." The tall guy didn't even look me in the face and bypassed me with a hard expression on his face.

I knew him, I was sure of that. Well now I was so exhausted I couldn't even remember from where exactly.

After fifteen minutes of walking faster, I finally got in front of the apartment complex where I lived.
At home, I finally threw my bag on the floor and walked straight to the couch and also threw myself on it.

My sphynx cat didn't even wake up and continued to sleep contentedly on a pile of pillows, but then he jerked and almost fell down when I suddenly sat.

My face brightened with knowledge.