sunflower cafe

f o u r

f o u r

Ollie pulled the keys out of her pocket to unlock the cafe. She fumbled with them, trying to get them into the keyhole. Her hands were shaking, but not from the cold.

"Here, Ollie, let me do it," Juniper took the keys from Ollie's hands.

"Thanks," Ollie whispered, noticing that Juniper's arm is still around her.

Inside was warm, but Ollie's hands still shook and Juniper kept her arm around her.

"Ollie," muttered Juniper, "do you want me to walk you up to your flat?"

"Oh. Uh sure," Ollie replied, returning from her daze.

"Okay," she grabbed Ollie's trembling hand, removing her arm from around her.

When they had walked upstairs and reached Ollie's flat Juniper was about ready to say goodbye as she opened the door. Ollie walked in and over to the couch, she sat down and looked down at her hands in her lap.

"Juniper can you stay with me for awhile?" She murmured, not looking up from her hands.

"Sure thing," she answered as she shut and locked the door before sitting down next to Ollie.

Ollie then leaned over and rested her head on Juniper's shoulders, crying.

"Ollie?" Juniper questioned.

"I liked him, Juniper. I trusted him with my story. And he kissed me. The kiss seemed so real and sincere. I thought he was a nice guy, I didn't know he'd get so persistantant and angry, " Ollie sobbed into her broad shoulders.

He replied by putting her hand on her head, and gently caressed it with her thumb.

"Are they all like that, Juniper?" Ollie whimpered.

"No Ollie, they all aren't like that," Juniper whispered back.

"Was it my fault?"

"Hm?"

"Was my mom's death my fault?" Ollie sat up and looked Juniper in the eyes.

"Ollie! How could you say that?" she stated, looking Ollie right in her teary eyes. "Of course not! Of course her death was not your fault."

"Juniper but —"

"Ollie, it was not your fault."

Juniper turned toward Ollie on the couch and locked her into a close embrace.

It felt like a lifetime when Juniper pulled away. Tears still streamed down Ollie's red and tear stained face.

"Ollie? Are you okay?" Juniper looked down at Ollie.

"No." Ollie met Juniper's gaze.

"Ol, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing."

"Please tell me. You literally just said that you weren't okay."

"My brother keeps bugging me about dad. Leo's been saying I am bad child for not wanting to help. Apparently dad's in jail again for getting mad at a bar."

"Ollie-"

"I don't want to help, Juni. He hurt me."

"Ollie. You don't have to help. I know he hurt you."

"But he is family."

"Just because he is family does not mean you have to help him. You don't even have to like him. The way he treated you is no way a father should treat their child."