Axel's Daisy

36 • Destiny

I was doing well at Lè Rose, but my mind was preoccupied with Dad and his medication. The alarm on my phone reminded me that it was time for his morning dose.

"You need to eat something and take your meds," I instructed as soon as Dad picked up, just as the customers began to fill in at eleven a.m.

"You're worse than the doctors, Des," he chuckled.

"Dad, I need to go. Don't forget," I urged softly.

"Yeah, yeah," he replied before hanging up. I laughed to myself before returning to my work, tending to the customers while arranging my cute purple peonies.

"I love this," a guy said, picking up the peonies with a grim expression at the counter, as if they had reminded him of something painful.

"Doesn't seem like you do," I remarked, noting his Eminem shirt and gold chain.

He looked at me with his piercing eyes and said, "I just hate the color purple because of her." He touched the base of the flowers with a hint of melancholy.

"Flowers are there for you through the good times and the bad. Each one holds a special memory," I said passionately. He gave me a solemn smile and decided to purchase them, pulling out his credit card.

There was no one else in line; people often preferred to sit down rather than order and go.

"You're right, I should take these," he said as he paid. "Thank you. I'll see you around." He walked out, leaving me to wonder about his story.

"Dessi, do you know who that was?" Indigo squealed.

"Who?" I asked, puzzled as I watched the enigmatic figure disappear through the tall glass window.

"That was West fucking Samuels! The rockstar of all time. He's a legend, and his band is incredible. Oh my god, his music is on another level." She gushed. "What did he say to you?" She asked excitedly, holding my arm.

"That he loved peonies." Her excitement deflated, and her shoulders slumped.

"Ugh, my luck sucks. I wanted to meet him, but I was stuck in the storage room collecting vases," she groaned dramatically. "Oh god, why me?"

I laughed and shook my head at her before heading to the staff room for my break. A notification popped up on my screen with a message from Brady.

Hey, it's Brady. You need to come now. Axel is having a meltdown and won't come out of the room

My world seemed to freeze. I quickly pocketed my phone and dashed out to find Indigo, asking her to cover for me. I unlocked my car and drove to Brady's house, which was just a few blocks away.

Gripping the steering wheel tightly, I made a hesitant turn, frequently checking my rearview mirror. The thought of Axel hurting himself made my stomach churn. Just thinking about it made me feel sick.

When I arrived, I parked quickly and rushed to the entrance. Brady opened the door, his disheveled hair and worried expression making my heart sink.

"What's going on?" I asked as we hurried up the stairs to his room.

"His mom showed up," Brady said tersely. "We were about to practice when we saw her on the front porch."

"I'll handle it," I said.

The sound of shattering glass pierced my heart as I fumbled with the doorknob.

"Axel, it's me, your Daisy," I called through the door.

"Leave me the fuck alone!" he screamed, and I heard more glass breaking.

Brady's phone rang, and Landon's name flashed on the screen.

"I got this," Brady said, heading downstairs to take the call.

I placed my ear against the door, the loud noises turning into white noise. I rested my forehead against the frame as I heard Axel's harsh sobs.

"Hey, Golden, I wanted to take your jersey today. Remember?" I said lightly.

"Just go away. I'm not fine, and I don't want you to see me like this."

"Axel, I want to be here for you," I said earnestly. "Please don't make it hard for me. Open the door." I chose my words carefully, trying to reach the broken boy on the other side.

After a few minutes, he finally opened the door.

Once the storm of tears had passed, his face resembled a landscape softened by rain, with traces of sorrow etched like delicate rivers on his cheeks. His eyes, once turbulent, now held a quiet depth, as if the tempest had cleansed him, leaving behind a serene melancholy. The air around him seemed to hold the echo of his emotions—a gentle reminder of the strength found in vulnerability—as he stood weathered but resilient in the aftermath of his tears.

As I wrapped my arms around him, it felt as if I was gathering up all the unshed tears he had ever held back, weaving them into a cocoon of warmth and understanding. My touch was gentle yet firm, like a lighthouse standing strong against crashing waves, guiding him back to shore. In that moment, I didn't need to say a word.

His shoulders trembled as his resilience ebbed, and I soothingly moved my hand up and down his back.

We pulled away, and I followed him into the room, where the sound of glass shards crunching underfoot was evident as we moved to the bed. I told him to lie down with me, and he hugged my sides, resting his head on my chest. I brushed my fingers through his hair as he closed his eyes.

"Mom is leaving with Scott, and I wish it didn't affect me like this," his muffled voice was weary and sore, drained from the sobs that had ravaged his throat. "But it does, Daisy. I fucking hate her so much."

"It will all pass soon, Axel. Tears are temporary, and your heart won't stay broken forever," I soothed him amidst the chaos that surrounded us.