Flower Prompted Stories

Oh, Peonie

"I just can't believe it," I say to my best friend Lennin. "It's like they want to take away everything I've always known,"

Lennin comforts me by putting his hand on my knee. "Look around Peonie," he tells me. I observe. We are sitting in a small clearing in the center of a gathering of old trees. The sun is shining like it would at 4:36 P.M. in May. There is a slight breeze that smells of hope, though I know in my case there will be none.

I was looking through the window of my mother's car with tears on my face on the way back from my father's funeral. My older brother, Maekin, had to take over driving because Mama was sobbing, her head in her hands, her body shaking.. Yes, I was crying over my father, but most of the tears came the hurt of seeing my mother so vulnerable and shut down. My mother was the strong one of the family, the one who always kept her tears in, the one who found her way out of the most difficult of situations.

Once we got home home, I called Lennin, and told him everything. He had no idea my father had died, and I could hear his tears through the receiver. Lennin's father left him when he was very little, so Papa was always a father to him.

"I'm coming over," he announced. A moment later, a ashen-faced Lennin climbed through my open window.

"There's something called a door," I mocked, "You should use it sometime."

"Shut up Peonie," he said.

We spoke for a while, ordered a pizza, watched a few comedies to cheer us up, and he slept over. See that's the thing. We are such good friends that it's not awkward for me to sleep over at his house or vice versa. It's like we forget that we are opposite genders.

I've always loved Lennin. His pale face, his short pitch black hair, his smile, his sense of humor. He is courageous, and comfortable in any situation. I want to be with him, but I'm afraid it would ruin our friendship.

I imagine this moment with a frown on my face. It was a great life here. But we have to move to a completely new city. And Lennin won't be coming with me.

"Do you see this place?" Lennin asks. "Peonie, listen to me." He notices I was drifting away, so he catches my chin. I look into his eyes, and all I see is green desperation.

"Do you honestly think you will ever forget this place?" I didn't know I was crying until I felt the tears fall down my face.

"Oh Peonie," I heard Lennin whisper softly as he wrapped me in his arms. I was now sobbing, and choking on the words I wanted so dearly to give him. He caressed my long brown hair, and I heard him crying too.

"I'll visit you," he muttered, pulling me out of his embrace and looking me in the eyes. "Peonie Cloudhart," he started cupping my cheeks in his hands, "I-I love--"

"Don't say it," I pleaded, "If you do, I'll never be allow myself to leave."

"Oh, Peonie," He repeated, "I don't want you to leave," he begged, his voice straining in despair. I couldn't help myself. I kissed his cheek, as our tears mingled.

I got up and ran away.

"Goodbye Lennin," I murmured under my breath.