Mindful(l)

Chapter 3: Feelings Fall Far From Flowers.

It's that time of a chapter! Does that make sense? Anyways, I guess it's time to stop avoiding it. It's time that I told you about my real love life. 

You: "But weren't you the charmer who liked to toy with girl's emotions?"

Me: "How, rude! I haven't toyed with anyone! I've simply given them another reason to live."

You: What a hypocrite...

I get that a lot. But, I really mean it this time. I'm going to show you that I wasn't always so rude and shallow; I was once very kind. 

It all began in the sixth grade: I had already realized that most adults were miserable people, but I had yet to learn how cruel life was. Her name was Daisy, like the beautiful flower that she was. I guess you could say she was my only crush, although even now that's hard to admit. After school, I'd make up excuses to all of my friends just to be alone in peace and quiet. Naturally, I'd always walk home to my mother who, at the time, was still alive. She was rather ignorant sometimes, but I could always feel compassion and worry through her seemingly ugly thoughts. Of course, she was still the only one who ever came home. The last time I saw my father was at Christmas time two years back then. This, of course, lead to her going out on dates with strange men. But, she never had the guts to go farther than a simple dinner or a flick at the movie theater. I would've consented, I hated my father anyways.

Oh, I digressed. My bad. Anyways, I met Daisy one night when I was sitting on the swings in the empty community park. She thought that I was "a strange boy with an indifferent look".

She sat on the swing next to me and started up conversation: 

Daisy: "Do you like to come here at night too?" 

Me: (shrug) Great, it's a person. Maybe if I stare at the ground long enough...

Daisy: "Why do you have strange colored hair?" It's so pretty though...

Me: (shrug) 

Daisy: "So, are you lonely too?"

Me: (shrug) 

Daisy: (stands up from swing and stands in front of Me) "OK! Let's get to know each other then! I'm Daisy, and you are?"

Me: (Looks up) "Marlo." 

That's how it all began. It was pretty much a drag-me-everywhere relationship, she never really asked for my consent. But, I guess she always kind of knew if I wanted to go or not. Sometimes, she'd make me forget who was the mindreader.

Before I knew it, a year had passed. Daisy had told me about herself, how she lived with her widowed dad and why she'd been homeschooled. It turns out that she had a weak nervous system and would always be absent if she went to a normal public school. By this time, my mother and I were becoming distant, we'd barely say hello in the mornings and I'd always leave for the park to go play with Daisy in the afternoon.  

Then, I opened my big mouth. I know that sounds cliche, but this really changed everything. Daisy and I were playing all alone in the park at around midnight on a Friday. My house was really close so my mother didn't mind and Daisy told me her dad didn't care about her as long as she didn't cause trouble. 

Daisy: "Hey, Marlo! Come here, let's go up into the treehouse and play!" 

Me: (shrug)

Two minutes later, we were perched on the balcony we had so carefully made for the already constructed treehouse which must've been more than a few years old. Its previous owners must've graduated from high school years ago. We had decided to upgrade it and ended up replacing all the soggy and termite-infested wood and adding some more leg space and a balcony.