Daisies

I'm Sorry

September 3rd, 2000

I don't know why. The reasons she looks at me with those eyes, I don't have a clue. She's tricking me, trapping me in a box of my own weakness.

"Trey, you have time after school? I got the latest comics of Indigo." My childhood friend, Duncan, takes the time to walk 2 stories from his class to mine to ask me something unimportant.

"Yeah," I pack all my books in my book bag and walk out of the classroom. "My dad isn't going to be home 'til late. You could come over."

"Nah, I was thinking we could go over to a karaoke box for some pizza and drinks. We could even invite that girl you always talk about."

His words leave me frozen. "No, why would I want to invite her? She'd ruin everything."

Duncan shrugs and leads me to some of his friends. "Aye, want to come over with us to a karaoke box, guys?"

They all nod and follow Duncan's lead. I don't know his friends that well since he's 2 grades below mine.

I change my mind before we arrive. Without Duncan finding out, I slip out of the group of friends and walk back home down the residential street known for its tall, big-ticket abodes.

"You're a cute one!" Her long hair falls as she kneels down to pick up a beetle.

It annoys me to be awoken by a girl that adores life forms of a different species. She never goes to school because all she does is watch bugs and water the flowers.

6:25 a.m.
She wakes me up with the sound of her humming. I wish I wasn't so lazy to walk up to her and slap that mouth quiet.

"Keep it down!" I yelled.

She turns her head and sees me in the window. "Good morning. I'm sorry to have woken you."

"Whatever. Just shut up."

Offended, she got up and walked inside her house. For once, I could wake up on my own and not have to worry first thing in the morning.

As I was walking to school, I spotted a trail of ants leading to a flower bed. "Stupid things." I lifted my foot and stomped on every one of them. "You don't deserve to live. Especially these flowers." I squished all the flowers beside me and made their sweet fragrance fade away.

September 7th, 2000

A few days passed, and she hadn't come outside. I decided I should apologize to her face-to-face. I walked up to her front porch and knocked on the royal blue door.

"Who's there?"

"Someone you might want to know."

She opens the door with a frown. "I'm sorry,"

"That's my line." I admit as I scratch the back of my head.

"Oh," She stares directly in my eyes. "It's okay. Let's get to know each other, so no grudges."

"Fine." I said. She takes my hand, and pulls me in the house and leads me to her backyard.

"This is my flower bed. I love flowers. You see, my mother really likes daisies, so my nickname is 'Daisy'." She said. Her attitude was annoying as always, but I dealt with it for a few minutes.

I spotted a rock that read 'R.I.P. Daisy- September 1st, 2000'I thought maybe her pet had died, so I didn't bother asking. It'd probably make her cry.

"That's interesting. What's your actual name?" I ask. I never thought I'd let each other become friends, but she gave me a genial greeting.

"My name is Cindy. What's yours?" She starts to smile again like the one she'd always give me in the morning. The smile that had me head-over-heels.

"Trey," I answered. Then after, we started talking more about ourselves.

By the time we were done talking, it was midnight and I needed some sleep. "Good night, Trey!" She waves me good-bye as I walk across the street and to my house.

The next morning, she is outside but without making a sound. Picking a handful of flowers, she looks at my window and waves. "Good morning!"

"You too."

Many days after, we hung out more and walked to the park together. We knew each other better and I never had the slightest hateful feeling towards her anymore. I think I fell in love with her.

September 18th, 2000

When school was over, I walked straight to her house and knocked on her door. "Cindy?"

"Hello, Trey! I made a batch of cookies. Want some?" Her soft hand touched my wrist and it made me at ease.

"Sure." I sighed; ending up at her place again.

Her eyes sparkled as she tied her hair in a bun. "Have as much as you like! I'll be in my backyard if you need anything."

I nod as she walks out the sliding glass doors. Chewing on my cookie, I look at the coffee table next to me.

On the table sat a pile of envelopes. One of them was open, so I peaked at the paper and the top read, 'Sorry, but we could not hire you at this time.'
I wondered what that was for. "Probably for a job." My mind told itself.

"I'm back. Did you like the cookies?" Cindy asked as she leaned over my shoulder.

Startled, I nearly choked on my cookie. "Y-yeah. They're great."

"That's good. I'm super tired. I think," She yawns. "I'll take a nap."

Cindy rests her head on my lap. I stroke her hair as she gently snores. I untie her bun and put the hair tie on my wrist. "I love you," I whispered in her ear. I meant it.

"Cindy?" I look around in the dark. Unintentionally, I fell asleep. "Where are you?" It was her house after all.

For a girl like her to leave me no notice or word gave me an eerie feeling. We knew each other and how we would react in these situations, so why?

I walked out of her house and I saw her at the end of the street. "Cindy!" I ran and hugged her. "Why are you out here at 3 a.m.?"

"My mother..." Cindy said, grasping my arms. "She.. she has cancer."

"W-what?" I asked.

"My mother has had cancer for 3 years now. I don't know how she's doing. It's like I never see her anymore."

"I-I'm so sorry for her, Cindy..."

"Thank you." She looked at me with the smile that always brightened my world. "Daisies. I'd like some for my mother."

"Daisies?" I held her face close to mine.

She nods. "Yes. Daisies."

I held her hand in mine and took her to my house. My mom has been growing some in her yard. She wouldn't mind if I took some. I picked those and wrapped the ends in paper. "These will do,"

Cindy smiles. "They're so pretty." She hugs me and cries. "I don't know what to do."

No words were remaining. I got this sign that all I could do for her was be there.

"I'm sorry," The doctor looked at me. "There isn't anything we could do. We lost her."

Cindy held the bouquet of flowers in her hand, and had them fall to the floor. I saw her collapse as well. I ran to her and caught her fall. This wasn't going to end. I didn't want it to.

"Trey." She said with tears in her eyes. "Daisies."

Not knowing what to say, I ask her. "Daisies?"

"They're dead." Her eyes close and her arms wrap around her mother's. "I can finally see you again, mama."

I look at the flowers on the ground. The daisies that were picked for her mother were withered. "Hopeless." I would say in the past. "No use. Stupid, meaningless living things. Die."

Now, there wouldn't be a time I would say that again.

The daisies were dead.

Cindy wasn't in my arms when I caught her.

But then I remembered:

R.I.P. Daisy- September 1st, 2000