
(c) Sonya, 2015
After school, we used to come to the park together to gather daisies. Then we’d sit on our bench – the secluded one by the pond from where you can see most of the grass. We fed leftover sandwiches to the swans, shared our secrets and made each other daisy chains. ‘A flower crown for Princess Violet,’ Poppy would say before she placed one on my head.
While I leave the daisies alone, I still sit on the bench and feed the swans. Late one afternoon, I spot her with her new friends.
She’s smoking while pulling petals off a daisy.
A little sad. I am wondering what cause them to part.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think Poppy grew up a little faster than Poppy… Thank you, Colline!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bittersweet and well-observed, did this happen to you?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your comment!
It didn’t happen to me, but I’ve seen it happen to others. My best friend and I were lucky enough to move along at the same pace.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are a master in revealing so much in so few words. An experience like this is quite bitter, maybe even more with the sweet memories (as Barnaby pointed out). Great job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I remember thinking that my best friend and I were so much more grown up than the other girls in our class, but it’s not actually based on personal experience.
Thank you, Izzy 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great story and spot on too – have had similar experiences myself. Strange to be so close to a person, then find such a distance as you grow up.
LikeLike
Ah, the loss of childhood. This makes me sad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry. But then, it was kinda the point… Thank you for hosting the Literary Lion; it’s become one of my favourite WP writing events 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s lovely to hear, and you are very welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A shame when best friends drift apart. I like the way you used the plucking of the petals (along with the smoking) to indicate that Poppy’s new friends are maybe a bad influence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you – I’m glad you picked it up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like high school. The plucking of the daisy petals was poignant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! That’s exactly what I wanted it to sound like.
LikeLike
I can remember this happening in my own life…brought back memories. Great work!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you!
LikeLike