Marigold dreams

It was a warm summer day; the fields had a gentle breeze blowing them in a peaceful way. This is so romantic, Anthony thought to himself, she’ll love this! Anthony laid out a blanket on the floor, and had a basket ready with bread, cheese and a botte of red wine. Hiding inside the basket was a marigold flower, with an engagement ring hidden under the flower bud.

Daisy approached where Anthony had set up his little picnic. She saw right past Anthony, staring right as the bottle of red wine that sat in the basket. At least she wouldn’t have to do this sober, she thought to herself. Anthony welcomed her with a kiss. He didn’t do his lips again, Daisy thought to herself. Almost as soon as they sat down, Daisy poured herself a glass of wine in one of the plastic wine glasses Anthony had brought. She poured it almost to the top and drank half the plastic cup right there and then. Then, their date began.

It was 30 minutes into the date when Anthony handed Daisy the Marigold flower. He then started to speak

“It’s a marigold, I know they’re popular in England, so I wanted to remind you of home. And in English, it’s part of the Daisy family. So, like your name. And like you, the flower is beautiful”

Oh no, Daisy thought to herself. She was sort of moved by the effort Anthony had made but also wondered what trashy romantic novel he stole it from. She had made a decision and she was to stick to it. She had a job in Paris that was she going to take. She could finally leave it all behind, leave Orléans, leave her English father’s constant bickering with her French mother – no more I should never have left Portsmouth. Leave her annoying younger brother whose only skill in life was speaking English. And leave Anthony, a high school romance that should have ended years ago. Anyway, ain’t the marigold flower from the Americas anyway? Not Britain, as if anything nice grew in Britain.

Before she noticed the engagement ring hidden under the bud of the flower, she had dropped it. She spoke in English briefly.

“Oh God here we go” before reverting to French. “Look Anthony, I’m sorry. I’m moving to Paris, and we’re breaking up.” She then got up and walked away. Never looking back. She didn’t see Anthony’s reaction; she couldn’t bring herself to see the pain she had just brought upon him. Her new life in Paris was soon to begin, and she couldn’t be more excited.

3 years later

It was 5 in the morning when Daisy was once again awoken from her slumber by her alarm clock. Time to get ready for work. She got changed, had a quick shower then breakfast and made her way to work. Once again, the streets smelt of urine, but by now she had grown numb to the smell anyway. She walked toward the metro station. Another argument between two people over seemingly nothing. Another man trying to fleece tourists. Another man coughing himself and half the station half to death. The city of romance.

It was the same train she had entered yesterday; she knew this as it was defaced with graffiti from some urban music group trying to sell their new mixtape. She assumed anyhow; she had no idea what the graffiti really meant. It must have been six months since she first saw it, had no one cleaned it off yet?

As per usual there were no seats available, so she stood. Her only comfort was listening to Little dragon on the way to Les Halles. Their track ‘Paris’ started playing. How ironic she thought to herself.

There it was another day of hard work. She had to stay later that evening because of she had to. It was 20:00 when she arrived home, finally. What to do now? It was a Wednesday, so she shouldn’t really go out. She decided to eat and watch TV. Game show, game show or game show where her options. None of them interested her. She was tired anyway, may as well get an early night. As she was about to fall asleep, she noticed a question on one of the quiz shows she was flicking through. The answer was Marigold flower. Strange, she thought to herself, what if she never left Orléans? Never left Anthony? Would life be better? She slept on it.

Another morning gone. The first thoughts Daisy had that morning. She looked over at the clock on the bedside table and saw the time – 11:30. Daisy shrugged herself off and went back to sleep. She then threw the duvet off her and rushed out of bed. She was going to be late for work!

But as Daisy ran towards her wardrobe, she realised it wasn’t there. In fact, this wasn’t her apartment at all! Everything about this place was different. She looked outside the window. She recognised the place, It was Orléans, a place in Saint-Denis-en-Val to be more exact.

Her looking out of the window was interrupted by a voice that appeared to come from the home she had just woken up inside. The sound was familiar, it couldn’t be? She made a dash for her phone, where she found the date - 14th March 2020. It was the 13th of March 2020 yesterday, when she went to sleep in her apartment. How did she manage to get from Paris to what appeared to be Orléans? It was doable with the time difference. Her thoughts where interrupted when someone entered the door.

“Good morning, or rather almost afternoon, Darling” A voice called out. Daisy looked at the face of the voice and wasn’t even that shocked. It was Anthony, in his dressing gown.

“Good morning… err Anthony” Daisy eventually responded. “Did something happen last night?”

“Did something happen?” Anthony responded sharply “Huh, well you were angry at those idiots I believe you called them and decided to leave that stupid old job behind.”

“Oh, But I worked so hard for that job dam”

“Worked so hard?” Anthony responded, slightly perplexed “You hated every single moment of that job. I remember, I remember you muttering about never taking that job in the first place”

Daisy fell back into the bed. Oh no, what had she done? Had she just undone three years of hard work to fall back into Anthony and Orléans? What could she had been so made about anyway? She did find herself having a slight distaste to Paris, she hated the long hours, and she even liked a couple of co-workers but didn’t hate anyone in particular – even her boss was alright. She wasn’t seeing anyone. Did she just have a mental breakdown and run away from it all?

“Alright Anthony let’s have breakfast” Daisy said, after a short silence had invaded the room. “Is there a café near here?”

“A café? You just quit you job. We should be saving money now. Here, We’ve got breakfast in the kitchen. Come on”

Daisy and Anthony head downstairs for breakfast. Anthony wasn’t wrong, his kitchen certainly had breakfast already. Anthony offered Daisy 4 croissants, a bowl of milk and a coffee. Daisy thought it would be rude to ask for anymore than that, but she did ask Anthony something dreadful instead

“Could you put them in the oven for 3 minutes?” Daisy asked

“What?” Anthony responded; half offended half shocked

“I like them warm, then I cut them in half and put banana pieces in between them” Daisy retorted, surprised at Anthony’s reaction. He usually let her do whatever she felt like.

“But… it’s not correct”

“My dad taught me it”

“Your dad is English!”

“Yea”

“Yea? Yea? Oh my God what am I going to do with you”

“You can start with putting my croissants in the oven please”

Anthony stayed staring at Daisy for a moment, before realising that it’s not a battle he’ll ever win and did end up putting those four croissants in the oven after all. He didn’t look happy about it. Daisy didn’t care, it’s just a hook up with an ex after all. Although seeing as she had apparently left her job in Paris, she would now probably be stuck in Orléans until she found a new job. Ugh maybe go to London next time.

Daisy considered all of this whilst she was munching down on her breakfast, with Anthony just staring at her from across the table. Did he not find anyone else? Is he still in love with me? After three whole years? As she thought this, as she lowered her bowl of milk, she saw something on Anthony’s finger. A wedding ring. This guy just had an affair with me?

“Oh, I best get changed now” Daisy announced

“Ok, what do you want to do today then?” Anthony asked. Daisy didn’t expect this response at all. She choose not to answer and instead decided to head upstairs to get changed. She picked the clothing that was on the chair nearby. It wasn’t what she was wearing last night, and she didn’t recognise it from any of her clothing either. Strange but she did own a lot more clothing than she needed. As she finished getting changed, she noticed that Anthony had stayed downstairs. This was her Opportunity! She fled towards the window, seeing a conveniently placed drainpipe nearby, and climbed out as quick as she could.

“Daisy?” Called a voice from the street. Oh, great now what? Daisy looked around quickly and saw a friend from her old workplace walking by.

“Hey Anne” Daisy responded

“Are you causing a scene again? You already made a big enough one yesterday” Anne said, in a scolding manner. Who does she think she is?

“A scene? So, everyone knows?”

“Yes. Everyone. You practically announced it to everyone”

Daisy froze herself in place. What did she announce? She then remembered the wedding ring. Oh Christ no. She didn’t did she?

“I’m going to England” Daisy suddenly announced

“England?” Anne responded, frozen in place at the unexpected announcement.

“Yes, Portsmouth to be more specific. I’m going to meet my grandparents. Yes, my grandparents. I’ve hardly seen them this past year”

“Didn’t they visit two months ago?” Anne responded

“I don’t remember that, could have at least been told they where in Orléans. Or better yet, they could’ve visited me in Paris at least”

“Paris?” Anna responded, looking now more perplexed than she did before.

“Yes, Paris. I’ve only been gone three years Christ it’s like I never left. Anyway, see you later” and with that, Daisy quickly walked away. She kept her British passport at her parents house thankfully. For whatever reason Daisy always knew a day like this would come where she may need a passport to escape France. She headed for her parent’s home, and so began her long journey to Portsmouth.

So… It was all a dream then? Daisy thought to herself, laying there in bed all alone. Oh, it’s my parent’s home, Daisy thought to herself, her poster of Sleeping Beauty still hanging on her wall. She must have gotten that when she was six. She used to bring boys back to that room, and she never thought to take down that poster. Thinking of this, she then remembered Anthony.

Daisy got up, wondering how she ended up being the one kicked of the house. She put this aside because it was to much of a downer to think about and instead thought about that dream she had. Her own Parisian apartment, her own Parisian Job and her own Parisian life. Wonderful. Why didn’t she take that job three years ago? Anthony, that’s why. Daisy know knew what she had to do. She found herself to her laptop and looked up the cheapest divorce lawyer she could buy.