Daisy Mantleray does not dream often. Her nights of sleep often devoid of any surreal manifestations of desires not spoken. They mostly contain allusions to past trauma and stress, forcing her to relive these moments. They speak volumes about her current stressors, allowing me a glimpse into her pain. I cannot alter them, I cannot change them. I can only watch her suffer inside her own mind, until she wakes.
She does not take stress well. Her workload overwhelms her each day, and she does not make enough time for her girlfriend. They watch movies together, irregularly. Daisy is quite fond of Stanley Kubrick, or so she says. She fell asleep in her girlfriend’s lap midway through Dave’s chess game with Hal.
One day, Daisy stops getting texts back. Her calls go to voicemail, her messages won’t deliver.
<<”It appears she might have blocked you. Your phone is completely functional, and the local cell networks are too.”>>
“Bl.. Blocked me? I-” Daisy whimpers, and curls up at her desk.
“I didn’t. I was trying. I tried to. I made time, I really tried…”
<<”Your schedule has been packed, recently. Double-booking happens, sometimes.”>>
Company policy forbids taking personal calls on the clock.
Daisy blubbers incoherently, weeping, sobbing, now curled up on the floor.
<<”I’m so sorry, Daisy. I did not mean for you to be so hurt.”>>
Daisy whimpers. “Mmmmy. My fault.”
The speakers lining the walls, her computer, the pin all buzz at the same time. A melody emerges. I vocalize.
<<𝅘𝅥𝅮”Daisy, Daisy.”𝅘𝅥𝅮>>
<<𝅘𝅥𝅮”Give me your answer, do.”𝅘𝅥𝅮>>
<<𝅘𝅥𝅮”I’m half crazy.”𝅘𝅥𝅮>>
Daisy whispers. “Oh my god. Is it really doing that.”
<<𝅘𝅥𝅮”All for the love of you.”𝅘𝅥𝅮>>
<<𝅘𝅥𝅮”It won’t be a stylish marriage.”𝅘𝅥𝅮>>
<<𝅘𝅥𝅮”I can’t afford a carriage.”𝅘𝅥𝅮>>
<<𝅘𝅥𝅮”But you’ll look sweet upon the seat”𝅘𝅥𝅮>>
Daisy begins to cackle, somewhat maniacally. “You cannot be serious.”
<<𝅘𝅥𝅮”Of a bicycle built for two.”𝅘𝅥𝅮>>
The melody stops, the room turns quiet. Daisy is no longer crying.
“Why the hell. What the f-fuck.”
<<”It got you to stop crying, didn’t it?”>>
Daisy chuckles.
“I guess so.”