A Daisy a Day - a Romantic Short Story

Almost done. Another 1/4 mile and her daily run would be completed. As she ran through the park, once again she had to go around that old couple holding hands. Didn't they ever stay home, she wondered? In a hurry to finish her run so she could shower, change clothes and start supper for the family, she didn't give the old couple another thought.

Running through the park the next evening, she noticed she did not have to maneuver around that old couple. They must have taken the evening off, she thought as she finished her run. A second and third day went by without any sign of the old couple. She had seen them every day for the last two years since she started her running routine. She remembered them always holding hands, smiling at one another, always glancing up and smiling at her as she hurried around them. Always in a rush to get around them, she never returned the smile or spoke. Now she began to wonder about them and hoped to see them again and get the chance to return the friendly, kind smile.

That opportunity came more than a week later, but not as she had imagined. Towards the end of her run, she came across a solitary man walking slowly, holding a daisy. Quite surprised to see the old man without his lady, she decided to take some time out of her busy day and speak to him. As she approached him, it was apparent he was quite tired. She said hello, and asked if he wanted to rest on a nearby bench. He looked at her, seemed to instantly recognize her, and after a slow smile agreed.

She asked him if he had much farther to walk. He responded that he was going to stop by the old candy store where he and his wife used to buy candy for children, and then head up the hill to give his wife the daisy. At this point she noticed tears began streaming down his face. He quickly apologized, wiped his eyes and began his story. . .

He and his wife met over 60 years ago at a farewell party for soldiers headed off to war. After a brief introduction and several dances, they quickly discovered how much they enjoyed each other's company. After an long, enjoyable evening of dancing, dinner and conversation, he thanked her for the wonderful evening. No mention of a future meeting, as they both knew he was leaving and headed off to war in the morning. Anxious to give her something before he left, he quickly picked a daisy from the park as he walked her home. "Just a little something to thank you for the wonderful evening," he told her. They both agreed it had been a nice evening and wished each other a good life.

After four long years in a foreign war stricken land, he arrived back home, physically in one piece, but mentally and emotionally drained. His parents, brothers and sisters were all relieved to have him back on American soil. Slowly, painfully he returned to a "normal" civilian life: Sleep, work, and eat . After a year, life was settling down for him - until that walk in the park. A vaguely familiar lady was smiling at him and asking how he was. Yes, it was the lady from all those years ago at the farewell party. Totally surprised, she invited him to sit and talk. Well, he said, that talking lead to more talking, dating and eventually marriage. When they got married, she told him she wanted daisies at the wedding, as she had always remembered that single daisy he had given her that first evening. He replied that he would give her a daisy a day if that was what she wanted. With that statement, his wedding vow to her was, "I'll give you a daisy a day, dear, I'll love you until the rivers run still and the four winds we know blow away."

The old man then said they had had a wonderful life together full of love. The love of his life had just died recently. With a sad smile, he said he had better get going up the hill before it got dark to give her the daisy. Together we walked up to the hill to give her the daisy a day he had promised her.