From Dreams to Nightmares

Chapter 28

Octavia's perspective

From the first physics classes we learn about the attraction of magnetism.  As similar poles repel and opposites attract. And like magnets, so are we humans, matter bound to coexist under the universal laws that bring us to the other.  And yet we humans are such a controversial subject that even philosophically we cannot describe man and since we cannot explain the human being we cannot express what comes with it, such as love. Another unanswered philosophical topic. Or better said, a question with a thousand varied answers that lead to tens of thousands of other questions. But why is love the most popular theme chosen by authors if it is still the most inexplicable?  Since ancient times love has been both the theme and inspiration of writing, writing begins and ends with love as philosophy begins and ends with us, the human being.

I don't consider myself a novelist, but I don't hide in the impenetrable void either. I embrace our human nature, trying to answer my questions and love the hearts that draw me to them. Even though the hearts are polar opposites, I'd rather melt in the hellfire of love than freeze passing through the gates of heaven.

I meticulously chose every piece of clothing I wear. I don't care how I dress but today was different. Because I was seeing her and her opinion mattered to me. I wanted to look at least a little presentable for the occasion. And when Kaly called me to ask if I could come to Lily's birthday party I couldn't say no. That little girl had me under a spell almost as strong as her sister. I spent half a day carrying an ideal gift for the little girl. And every time I spent time babysitting her I learned that she likes to sing so I bought her a ukulele. But now on the way to the girl's house I realized that something was missing. Something I hoped could make a difference. And looking at the cute little flower shop on the corner of the street I said to go in. With quick steps, maybe too determined to be honest, but I entered and the scent of flowers delights my nose, I was looking at the variety of colored and fragrant flowers thinking which one would be the best. And looking at the shade of an extraordinary bouquet of blue my mind ran to the eyes of a red-haired girl who I think is very stressed today. So I choose the most beautiful bouquet from the series and go to pay it to the woman who works here.

"Such beautiful flowers, I can assume that they are for a special person..." The lady tells me, arranging the bouquet to make it look better. "You have no idea..." I answer somewhat timidly, wiping my sweaty palms on my pants. But she looked at me warmly and sweetly like a child, the lady noticed my strange attitude and smiled slowly as if for her more. "Don't stress, you made a very good choice, they are lovely flowers dear!" the woman says trying to encourage me, to be honest this is the first time I've given a flower to someone, I've never felt the need to do this before. "And if she doesn't like it?" I ask her about the much shorter woman than tomorrow and she shakes her head and puts it on my shoulder. "And what do you have to lose? What you offer is not just a flower but a story, a promise because every flower has a story... Like the blue flower that represents intention, desire, faith, love and the metaphysical effort to reach the infinite which is, in fact, unattainable. It also symbolizes hope and the deep beauty of things."

"Wow, I really didn't know that," I say pleasantly surprised by the eloquence of the lady who now took her place behind the counter. "I read a lot... it's boring here!" she says and I smile. I was no longer feeling emotional but not because of the pompous definition but more because of the way the woman through such a detailed explanation managed to turn off my brain and make me forget why I was feeling that way. I pay the bouquet, thank the lady for everything and continue on my way. In one hand I had the bouquet of flowers in the other the gift box.

More and more sophisticated cars were already parked in front of the huge villa, the commotion could still be heard from the street, voices of children and adults in chorus. I already knew that this was pure torture for Lili because she was a more withdrawn child. She preferred her company over other people just for the validation from them, to be honest though it was weird for a kid it was something I respected. What I didn't expect was that her sister would come up with an idea like this when she knows her sister too well and knows that she doesn't feel comfortable in the company of so many people, which means she didn't organize the event but someone else . Are her parents at home?  I move the box into the same hand as the flower bouquet and confidently ring the doorbell and straighten my posture. Although I'm not at all sure of myself, at least that's how I seem to be.

I hear the loud sound of heels hitting the floor on either side of the door. Hopefully the door will be answered by Kalilah, or at least someone who works in the house, but I was wrong. The woman's resemblance to the little girl was striking, they looked like two drops of water. Surprised by the presence of the woman smiling at me from ear to ear, I swallow hard. "Ms. Corana, what a pleasure to see you again, it's been a while!" I say and the woman hugs me. I would have hugged her in turn but my hands were busy. "O God Octavia, I won't recognize you, under the sun of this city have you become so sturdy?" the woman says laughing and I can't help but let out a few smiles.

"What's with you here?" the woman asks me in surprise, but it wasn't a feeling of discomfort, it was more of a simple curiosity. "Kaly invited me plus Lily was dying for me to come too..." I say and the woman looks around the room, her eyes twinkled at my words. "Do you know my daughter? I'm going to want to hear this story later..." the woman says and I turn my head towards the area where the footsteps approaching us can be heard. With a tall and intimidating posture, if you didn't know him you would say that Mr. Daniel is a beast, in fact he was the gentlest man possible, he was the true example of apparent deception. When the man sees me he smiles and comes to shake my hand. "Look who's here! I can't believe how much you've grown, little one!" he says and I laugh when I hear the nickname he assigned to me.

As much as I seem to know these people they really are the ultimate example of how appearances can be deceiving as they have known me since I was a child and have never once mentioned in their lives that they have children. They always wanted to appear to be the perfect people giving attention to everyone living their life to the fullest when their source of life was here ignored, left to their own devices in the wind...

"Kalilah!" I say as I can already smell the girl's perfume filling my nostrils. I look at her trying to control my smile, and the girl looked at all three of us curious about the interaction we were having. The adults understood the sign that it was their time to withdraw, so they left the room as if running away, leaving us alone. "You came!" the redhead says in disbelief and I measure her from head to toe, admiring her white dress, and she does the same looking at me intensely. "You look very good today I can tell..." she says, grinning at me. With my hands behind my back hiding what we have, I lean towards her ear inhaling her intoxicating perfume once again "And you, as usual, radiate the room with your beauty I could say..." I say grinning when I see that the girl's cheeks take on a rosy hue. "I got these for you!" I say offering the bouquet of flowers to the girl and her eyes sparkled with happiness looking at it. She scooped it up in her arms admiring it. "The flowers match your shirt!" she tells me and I smile at her statement "The flowers don't just go with my shirt..." I say and the girl starts looking at herself and around her trying to understand what I said. "With what exactly?" she asked me curiously like an innocent child. "Then you should look in the mirror if you forgot your eye color love!" I say and the girl's face was as red as the color of her hair.

AN: I know this story is a real slow burn but I promise it worths the waiting!

XOXO, LittleSome0ne ❤️