The Paradox of a Sunflower

Chapter 1

"What I like about her is that she blooms whether you water her or not. Whether you give her light or not. She exists without your existence."

London, 2020, September

Standing at the airport someone can witness a few of very overwhelming moments, most of the time a loved one is arriving or departing to somewhere. Not nearly such a moment for me tonight. I just arrived in Heathrow Airport, first time flying ever, in a new country, all alone. A little will be if I say I am lost. And how is it possible to be so crowded in here at 12:00 am?

    I am waiting for my luggage to arrive at the airport carousel and I swear it is taking hours, or maybe it feels like hours. Around me there are hundreds of people walking in a rush probably to catch the subway or the train and go home. I can faintly hear the british accent from a group of men a few meters away. I am indeed here, I made it.

When I see my luggage coming I grab it quickly and start looking for any 'exit' sign. In my rush, I don't pay attention around me and I foolishly crush on someone causing my fall on the floor. As I raise my head to see who I crushed into (thank God they didn't fall as well), I see a very sweet girl with a quite familiar countenance, maybe a little bit older than me, with beautiful grey eyes and medium ashy-blonde hair with bangs, giving me a hand.

    "Oh, I am so sorry love, I didn't see you coming to me. Are you alright?" she asks in a gorgeous accent british people are blessed with.

    "I am terribly sorry, I'm the one who bumped into you" I apologise as I take her hand and stand up "I am alright, thank you, if you exclude my clumsiness." I continue and gain a little laugh to my comment from the beautiful girl.

    "Don't be silly, we are at the biggest airport in the country, something like this is inevitable. Just happened to be us the lucky ones this time" she smiles "I am Anna, it is lovely meeting you" she extends her hand for a handshake

    "I am Delia, pleased to meet you Anna" I smile back and shake her hand

    "What a beautiful name!" she compliments "From your talking I understand you are not from around here" she points watching me with curiosity

    "That is correct. I come from Greece" I explain as I brush a wisp of hair from my face

    "Oh, Greece! I love Greece, been there some times, in Santorini, Mykonos and Athens, I had a blast" she conveys enthusiastically "And what brings you to our lovely city? Vacation?" she asks and the word echoes differently with her accent

    "More of a new start thing" I admit

    "That is wonderful" she raises her brows "London is the perfect place for new beginnings"

    "I hope so" I murmur

    "So where do you live now?" she asks

    "Actually I was hoping you could maybe show me where I can exit this humongus place" I declare "I booked a hotel for this week, The Langham if you know it, it is on 1C Port..."

    "Yes, of course I know it! Come on I can give you a ride, it is on my way" she voices before I finish my sentence and starts walking towards the nearest door.

    "No, no wait! It is not nessesary at all, I don't want to be a discomfort. I'm just looking for the exit and I can grab a cab from outside" I explain, running after her with my overweight luggage

    "There is no discomfort, I just told you it's on my way" she sings and stops to look at me "Come on it is already late" she grabs me by the hand and I laugh.

    We find the exit door and we head to the parking lot. Anna walks in front of me. I start looking around the big lot, processing the place. A couple of minutes later I hear the sound of a car getting close and I turn my head towards it and in front of me I see my dream car, a gorgeous pink Cadillac. Didn't expect that to be honest. The car-parking attendant exits the car and gives the keys to Anna and proceeds to put the luggage at the luggage compartment of the beautiful car.

"C'mon, get in!" Anna shouts from inside and I understand I've been abstract for a minute

When I get in someone's car I like to always take a little time to observe everything. The texture, how tidy it is or isn't, the smell, the music of course. You can understand a lot from someone's car, it represents the personality of the person a lot of the time. Anna's car is how I imagined it to be. Nude leather cover seats, clean and neat, smelling fresh, comfortable and everything a car as luxurious as this could be. As Anna starts the car and the radio starts playing I know I've guessed right about the music in my mind. She is of course into oldies. Who doesn't love some old school rock n' roll after all?

"So, what is your plans for tomorrow love?" Anna shakes me out of my thoughts

"To be honest, I didn't plan anything yet just hoped into the next plane and booked a hotel room" I turned to her "for which I don't know how I am so calm because normally I would be panicking now!"

"Oh you're a little control freak yourself, like my friend Poppy" she laughs "So, if you don't know what you are doing tomorrow you will come with us, we're gonna go for vintage shopping, then we'll have some lunch and in the evening we have planned a little get together in my house, it'll be fun!"

"No no, that is so not necessary you've already done enough for me, I don't wanna be a pain, I've been a lot already."

"But I told you to come, you are not a pain, I like you that is why I invite you, c'mon don't be a party pooper!" Anna argues as we get in London and I'm stunned from the pretty architecture of the buildings and the millions lights of the city

"I don't know Anna." I hesitate

"But I know, and I won't accept no for an answer, so you'll be ready at 11 o'clock sharp in the morning."

"You really don't accept no for an answer" I say quietly and we laugh

London is beautiful. It is 00:30, so not a lot of people are on the streets but the lights are showering the city and the Big Ben, the London Eye and The Shard from the other side dress up the dark London. I am comfortably watching and capturing every detail I can from the inside of this expensive car while Anna is driving and quietly humming to Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers.

"We are here my love." Anna is letting me know that we arrived at my hotel as she parks in front of it

"Thank you so very much Anna for helping me today and for giving me a ride!" I open my door and smile at her

"Oh, it was nothing!" she shrugs me off as I step out of the car " You can pay me back by being ready tomorrow at 11:00 am sharp. Don't be late!" she shouts from inside the car

"Alright, alright" I laugh

I get my luggage and move towards the hotel door while I wave to Anna.