I ran through the garden hiding from an evil man, Jose, who has come back to hurt me once again? Was it not enough what I did for him? I gave him my trust, my life, my being. He asked, I gave willingly. Jose left, and with him, he took my heart, my soul, my confidence in humankind. I cried, I yelled, I got sick. A broken heart is hard to mend when it’s shattered into a million pieces.
I had just found peace found among the cacti, weeds, and the brown grass of the desert. And I ran faster away. A familiar voice yelled, “Stop!” I froze on my heels and dropped to the ground, bleeding tears.
Lilly bloomed from my blood on the soil. “I had lost Adam to Eve. He didn’t come back for me. Your Jose may not be either. Be brave and strong, and you will see. The past has passed, so cherish the few good memories. The present is hard, and you will see that your future will be easy and truly be with only one, and he is to come,” she said to me.
Daisy smiled with her white petals, placed her leaves behind her stalk and bent her stem, and giggled, “What do you miss the most?” She seemed to know my mistrust of me Jose, my reason for running from every man.
“What I miss the most? Oh Daisy, my best friend. What I miss the most is waking up to someone that cared for me. I guess I don’t miss it if I never had it.”
I lay by my flowers on their bed. I sobbed, I cried, I hugged myself, thinking of why Jose contacted me. The sun shone in my eyes. Clouds white and then dark. Thunder threatened my fears for his warmth. My tears rained on their petals, “It’s been two full years, and I did miss him so.”
Dandelion roared as he grew big and strong, “Keep your heart safe and don’t let him gain your trust again!” he firmly said. “Don’t you have self-respect?”
I placed my hands to my face, and cried, “I did. I do. I don’t know anymore. He’s back to me too quickly if you ask me. I had just found the peace and serenity of being myself and be whole again.” I composed myself and took a deep, calming breath.
“I truly miss the lullaby of his voice, as he once took me in his arms. I miss the aroma of his soul when I inhaled his scent. How I long for the warmth of his hot body next to mine. However, it’s the insincerity of his words when he called me ‘baby’ that I don’t trust.”
Violet shouted, “Be strong and you will see that the man you loved did not care for you.” Her scent impregnated my senses. “The months have flown by quickly. You are a whole man. Don’t forget you forged a new leaf of wisdom.”
Hyacinth raised her leaves, “Welcome back, young man, watch your step not only in the flower bed but also in your new life,” she said in her royal demeanor. “Besides, what’s the rush? You almost died a year ago. You’re not alive for this pain.” Her round face grinned at me as if she knew who my destiny, my lover, my man will be.
I felt a tap on my shoulder. “Young man.” I turned. “You should’ve kissed a flower once, twice, thrice to bring you, eternal love, when you gave your heart away,” Rose’s splendor beauty blinded me.
I kneeled to kiss her. “Three? No, my dear Rose. A dozen of you I wish to smell. But not anymore. I don’t want chocolate diamonds on a single rose, nor wedding rings. I want Trust and nothing more.”
I gathered all of them in my arms and rested my head on them. “Oh, Daisy, I lay me down to think how my life has been without my Jose and how it will be when I find trust in a man.” I closed my eyes to sleep.
I felt a kiss on my cheek. “Good morning, love.” It’s what he said. I looked to see who in the garden had such a beautiful and manly voice. Alas, it was not a flower nor a weed, not a cactus nor a dry bush.
Another kiss stolen from my lips. I cleared my eyes of the glare, and there he was. A man who brought with him trust.
Andres Fragoso, Jr.
Andres creates stories that show the other aspects of being human, his characters come to life overcoming obstacles that are beyond their control.
GAY FLASH FICTION 