Sunflower

Sunflower 🌻

Save the date, August 30th, 2024. Not the most romantic day, but as good as any. That

was my first thought, when I first saw the invitation card. True to Elizabeth’s character,

the entire card screamed, elegance, subtlety and of course flowers, more specifically

sunflowers; hence why I am dressed in this dreadful yellow. Do not get me wrong, I am

not mad at it; The brightness does sooth my complexion, but there is something

infinitely irritating about being dressed in this colour, in this blistering heat-

“Sonia”, A man calls her, breaking her chain of thought.

“Oh Henry.... why are you walking around, shouldn’t you be getting ready”

“What do you mean, get ready. They placed a suit on the couch, and I put it on.”

‘He looks so happy’ She thought to herself.

“Have you seen the rest of the wedding party; I have a feeling someone is going to arrive

late. You know how our friends are.”

“No, I have not seen them, and I do not need to. I have confirmed via text that they have

all arrived and I am making Danny babysit. Do not worry, as the maid of honour; I assure

you, everything is under control.”

“Ok..., I trust you. You look beautiful by the way. I need to go find something to do to get

rid of my nerves” he says as he smiles and walks away.

Yep, you trust me, and yet I still do not have a speech for your wedding. Why did I leave

this to the last minute. What the hell should I say, what should I say...

Elizabeth and Henry, they are my best friends-

Elizabeth and Henry, they are both made for each other. That’s good.

Or maybe I can begin with how they met.

“Before henry met Elizabeth. It was just Elizabeth and I. She was my only friend, always

so bright and lovely like her hair. Always willing to help, always there with the right words

when you need it. I do not know how I could have survived college without her, and then

henry came between us.

[Everyone in the reception laughs]

“He was a freshman in college, and we were juniors at the time we met. He was, completely

hopeless; always asking what he needed to do, what class he needed to go to... ‘Do you

think this will come out in the exam?’ So many irrelevant questions, but just for

Elizabeth, and Elizabeth, being the reliable person she is, always had an answer. At a

certain point, she began to be happy whenever he came to her with one of his irrelevant

questions.

And I am going to say this; I knew that they liked each other even before they did, they

were completely clueless, and it brought me so much joy when they eventually figured it

out.

There is nothing more comforting and beautiful, than having someone that you can turn

to when you need to, someone that truly understands you, someone that completes

you, and I am so glad that my best friends have found that.

So, let’s raise a toast, to the beautiful couple. To Mister and Mrs Landon. I love you guys.”

Everyone stands up to raise a toast to them, and Elizabeth, teary eyed, muttered “I love

you too”

“Sonia!” Elizabeth calls out to her and hugs her. “That speech was so beautiful, thank

you.

“It’s okay.” Sonia says shyly.

“Are you okay?”

“.... What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, you just seem a bit sad-”

“Ellie, it’s time to dance, come on, let’s go.”

“Okay! Sonia, we will talk later.” Elizabeth says, as Henry pulls her to the dance floor.

“Okay sure....” I seem sad. Why do I feel sad?

There are so many things I left out of that story. About how henry and I met. About how

he and I went on a couple of dates, but I decided not to continue the relationship. It

was nothing dramatic. I just didn’t feel attracted to him and I still don’t; So, I am sure this is

not envy. So, why do I feel so dejected, a bit out of place even.

I should probably find a place to hide before I dampen the mood. She thinks to herself as

she finds some stairs in a secluded area to sit and as she placed her head on her knees

to rest, she let out a big sigh and says to herself “Today has been a long day.”

“Sonia, there you are sunflower. May I share your hiding place?”

“What? oh, Sure I guess…. Sunflower?”

“Yeah, Yellow.”

“Oh, of course. What are you doing here, shouldn’t you be dancing or something.”

“Oh well, its best I rest for a while before I bust a knee.”

[They both laugh]

That was a very beautiful speech by the way.”

“Thank you.” She says again shyly.

“I really like that part, about finding someone that truly understands you, completely.”

“Paraphrasing a bit?”

“Just a little bit, but that is what we all hope for you know. Something so simple yet so

rare, and even in my 30 years of life it still eludes me. I do fear sometimes, that this rare

jewel is only meant for a select few, the lucky ones, and for the rest of us, we may be

lucky to find few that understand us through our lifetime but never completely.”

“So that’s what it is.” Sonia says to herself.

“What is?”

“Danny, I think you just helped me figure out why I am sad...... I think, I am afraid.”

“Of what?”

“That I am not one of the lucky ones, and I may never be. You know, every time I got

really sad, Ellie would tell me, happiness is a choice, you can choose to be happy. Well,

that choice always seemed as easy to make as choosing to be a millionaire.”

“Pfft, well its easier in theory than in practice. Hey, [He says as he slightly taps her on

the shoulder] you may not have the love of your life yet, but you have friends that love

you, and who knows, maybe we may never become the lucky ones that eventually get

married and ride off into the sunset, but I guess we can bask in their sunlight. So, (he

says as he gets up) let’s not worry about any potential knee injuries or hiding away to

prevent souring the mood of the party, and let’s go dance with our friends.

Give me your hand.”

“Hey, look at your brother and Sonia.”

“Oh, there they are.”

“Have you noticed, that ever since our families met each other and Sonia met Danny.

Every single time Sonia goes missing, Danny goes to find her?”

“Hmm...., I have not noticed.” Henry says nonchalantly.

Save the date, April 15th, 2025, seems like a regular day but is the most romantic day of

all. Finally, the oldest of the Landon’s, the reckless heartthrob himself, is settling down-

“Reckless heartthrob? I think you can do better than that. He is your brother now, be a

bit meaner. She was certainly mean to me on our wedding day.”

“Henry let it go.”

“She said I was hopeless.”

“Honey, you were hopeless...but adorable. Come on let’s go, the maid of honour cannot

be late.”

The most important decision you can make, is choosing who to spend the rest of

your life with, and today, gathered here with friends and family; We are here to

witness the union of these young individuals.

Daniel, do you take Sonia Penelope Johnson as you lawfully wedded wife.

“I do”

And Sonia, do you take Daniel Jacob Landon as your lawfully wedded husband.

“I do.”

[Those eyes by New West Playing]

Thank you for reading my short story

Tano