Work Text:
When Christina woke up she should have known there was something in the air. A faithful day. It had rained the entire time and the clouds had hung heavy, close over the roofs of the neighbourhood. A distinct taste with every breath.
She had tried to ignore it at first. Made breakfast and had done the laundry but she knew about her gut instincts. She couldn’t ignore them and just keep shoving them to the back of her mind. The sun rose and set without meeting her eyes once. Even if she had gone out. The day was dreadful. She had a bad feeling in her stomach and had concentrated on nothing. Half the cutlery had fallen down while she doing the dishes and she had knocked over her favourite vase.
Those were all tasks she had, yet she had failed. Failed at being a good wife but that was normal. And it was never as bad as it had been today. Her husband had come home early with a bright smile on his face and had told her all about work, never asking about her well being. How she would have possibly needed a hug.
The call came right before bed. She almost had to smile when the weight fell off her shoulders as she heard the phone ring. She detensed. She was lighter. This was the reason. She knew it, even before she picked it up. Before she knew who was on the phone.
“What is it darling?”, her husband yelled over from the living room, still just watching TV.
“Let me take it first”, she replied and finally pressed the device against her cheek. They still had their telephone in the hallway, next to their little bench it was attached to with a swirled cord. She sat down on the bench. “Hello?”
“Christina?”
“Molly!”, she said excitedly. Even though Molly’s voice was stressed, uneasy, she was the bringer of bad news.
“Christina, did you already hear?”
“No, I have been home the entire day because of the rain, what is it?”
“Tom and Gunilla’s daughter is dead.”
…
“She was killed in a car crash. They say the road was too slippery and she probably couldn’t see.”
…
“Christina? Christina can you hear me? Is everything alright?”
“Yes..”, Christina swallowed down everything. “I am alright. Thanks for calling Molly, but I really– don’t have. The time right now.”
“Are you sure, everything is okay, Christina?”
“Yes. I’ll come around another day so we two can catch up. Send Gunilla and Tom my condolences if you happen to be around them I will soon…” She hung up without finishing her sentence.
Said on the little telephone bench.
“You have to stop taking life this seriously…” A pull by the hand and a laugh. The sun that kissed her face and lit up her hair. A carefree giggle. Walking barefoot through a freshly cut meadow.
“But life is serious”, Christina corrected. Daisy stopped them, took Christina’s other hand. She was so pure at heart. So ever loving. So always.
Daisy took her face in her hand. Calmly. She was collected. “It won’t become any easier if you worry about it. We’re free. Together we’re free.”
They hadn’t been together for long.
Daisy leaned forwards to kiss her lips. Softly pressed their matching pair on each other while pulling Christina down by her hands. To get them closer. When she pulled back Christina could still taste her sweetness on her lips.
“You’re right, it doesn’t.”
“See, now let’s go out and have some fun together.”
It didn’t matter because Christina hadn’t had the courage for them. And now it was too late.
She leaned against the backrest and let her head drop against the wall. Exposing her throat, trying to not allow the tears freely. How often she had sat like this with her eyes open, looking at the younger woman.
She had been scared of leaving Daisy alone. Yet she had. But Christina hadn’t expected feeling the pain of her own stab.