Brent’s hands were shaking, as he gripped his half-full cup of Sprite. He knew that he did not belong in a place like this. The loud music and merciless dancing was aiding in an on-coming headache in the back of his head, right at the base of his spine. He kept glancing frantically at his watch, in hopes that the minutes would turn into hours. Right as the door opened, Mitch approached him with two drinks in one hand and a rather inebriated girl in the other.
“Dude! This place is incredible! Have you met Sarah?” Mitch screamed in Brent’s face.
“Hi, how are you?” Brent held out his hand to Sarah but instead she stumbled over his foot and fell onto the floor. Brent stared at Mitch as he struggled to pick her up.
“When are we leaving, man?” Brent asked Mitch.
“Never, man! This place rocks!” Mitch exclaimed as he began walking back into the crowd, away from where Brent was standing.
Brent rolled his eyes. He and Mitch had been best friends since the 3rd grade and they had always been polar opposites. Mitch was always the guy that made everyone laugh and Brent was the quiet, thoughtful guy that got nervous around pretty girls. Brent began walking towards the door, in an effort to get some fresh air. As he was pushing through the crowd, he saw something. Something that he will never, ever forget. It was a girl and she was wearing a pink dress and yellow stockings with little ducks imprinted on them. As he approached her further, she began to smile at him. As Brent passed her, their eyes locked. He couldn’t pull his eyes away from her and that was when a large man with a giant nose ring came in through the door and ran straight into Brent, knocking him to the floor. The girl quickly ran to Brent and helped him get up. They swiftly walked through the door, out into the frigid, December night.
“Are you okay?” The girl asked Brent.
“Umm, yeah I-I am good.” Brent stammered.
“I’m Daisy. What’s your name?” Daisy asked.
“Uh-uh my name is Br-rent. Ni-ice to me-e-et you Daisy.” Brent stuck out his sweaty hand. Daisy shook it and then proceeded to wipe her hand off on her dress.
Brent stared at Daisy. Daisy stared back but almost immediately turned her head in discomfort.
“Alright well, nice to meet you. I guess I will see you around then?” Daisy said, as she started to walk away.
“Yeah, yeah that sounds great. I look forward to it,” Brent struggled to get his words out. He was in shock, as the most beautiful girl he had ever seen walked away from him.
Brent began walking home, he didn’t feel like waiting on Mitch. He began thinking of how dumb he was and how he will be single for the rest of his life.
The next day was a Sunday, which meant Brent and Mitch were going to go to the local coin laundry to wash clothes. When the two guys got to the laundry place, Brent got a glimpse of something, something familiar. It was Daisy. He began sweating and shaking. Daisy turned around just as Mitch opened the door and began waving at Brent.
“Oh crap! She recognized me,” said Brent.
“Who?” Mitch answered.
“Hey Brent! How are you? I didn’t know we went to the same coin laundry. How funny!” Daisy said as she was pulling her underwear out of one of the washers.
“Oh, yeah, it’s hilarious.” Brent said, quickly realizing his sarcasm may have came off a tad bit rude.
“Right. Well I am almost done. Do you want to grab some coffee at Jerkin’s?” Daisy asked Brent.
“Uh-uh, of course!” Brent exclaimed, his heart was racing.
“What about laundry?” Mitch asked as he rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, later.” Brent answered Mitch without even looking at him.
Brent and Daisy began walking to Jerkin’s. Brent had no idea what to say, as he walked swiftly with his head down and his hands in tight fists. Daisy was strolling, relaxed with her arms swaying by her hips. Her dress fluttering in the breeze. She smelled amazing, Brent noticed.
“So what do you do for fun?” Daisy asked Brent, as they walked into the coffee shop.
“Um not much. Definetly not clubs. It really isn’t my thing,” Brent answered.
Daisy laughed, “I couldn’t tell!”
Brent laughed and began to turn red. They ordered their coffee and sat in one of the nooks near the bookcase. Brent was in such awe of Daisy. He had no idea why she wanted to hang out with him or even talk to him. All he knew was that she was sitting right there in front of him, sipping her coffee with her lovely hands and large, wool sweater. She was gorgeous. After the two were done with their coffee date, Brent went home.
The next morning Brent woke up with immense happiness within his heart. He was on cloud nine. He finally found the girl of his dreams and couldn’t wait to see her again. Brent decided to call Daisy and ask her to dinner the following Friday; Daisy accepted. Later that same week on Thursday evening, Brent found himself in the local drugstore contemplating which bouquet of daisies to buy for Daisy. He didn’t want to overdo it but didn’t want to seem cheap either. He decided to buy a small bouquet of six daisies and a chocolate bar.
The next day, Brent came home from university and began getting ready for his date. He wore a solid blue button-up, corduroy pants, brown shoes and a watch his mother got him for Christmas last year. He walked to Daisy’s house and knocked on her door. As Daisy opened the door, Brent was speechless. She wore a pink dress, with shiny gold heels and her hair was curled and lush. She was flawless. She smiled a smile so bright, Brent had to rub his eyes to continue gazing at her. The two walked hand-in-hand to dinner.
After sitting down at their table, the two began to chat.
“What university do you attend?” Daisy asked Brent as he shoved bread down his throat nervously.
“I attend Charles University, what about you?” Brent asked as he choked on his water.
“I don’t go to university, I am an artist. I am self-taught and I sell my paintings on the streets of Prague in the evenings.” Daisy had a certain look in her eyes, one of pure passion.
“Oh wow, I think I have seen you around maybe,” Brent said.
“Ah, you probably have. I am a drifter and sort of do my own thing” Daisy answered as the waiter came to take their order.
The couple ordered and continued to make small talk. Once the evening was over Brent walked her home. As the couple departed, Daisy leaned in closer to Brent’s face. He panicked and quickly drew away from her. He apologized and turned around. He knew he had made a mistake as he walked home. All he could think about for the next few days was Daisy. Her smell, her hair, her eyes. He was in love with Daisy.
Brent didn’t hear from Daisy since their date. On that following Tuesday, Christmas Eve, Brent went to Daisy’s house. He wanted to ask her to have Christmas dinner with him and his family. He knocked on her door but no one came. He knocked again, still no answer. After a few knocks he tried the doorknob, which happened to be unlocked. He stepped inside her house. Art was everywhere, paint stained the floors and there was a petite Tabby cat perched on the kitchen table. He assumed her bedroom was upstairs and proceeded to climb the stairs. He saw a bedroom with the door cracked and he figured it was Daisy’s. As he opened the door he saw her lying on the bed. Her eyes were half-open, her body was lifeless and cold. Daisy was dead.
All of a sudden Brent woke up, startled and half asleep. He began chanting “She wore a pink dress…she wore a pink dress…”, over and over again. The night nurse came into his room to calm him but Brent just kept saying the same phrase over and over. The night nurse quickly injected him with a mild sedative. The nurse gazed out of the window, her eye caught something. She saw a woman standing in the middle of the road, staring up at her. She wore a pink dress.
