Daisy In The Rifle

Aloft my black stallion, I stood tall as leader of my army.
Positioning myself at the center of the front line, I gazed out across the battle field.
The fog was thick and the clouds released a chilling mist.
Piercing my vision through the small slits of my armor I watched as the adversary’s front line slowly stretched across the landscape like a blossoming flower.

From where I stood the adversary appeared at a great distance away, but I knew the fire within us, lit by the struggles before this day, would bring our armies together within seconds.
As I paced back and forth contemplating the right moment for attack, I took in these brief moments of peace.
Scanning this piece of the Earth that was chosen for this battle, I looked high and beyond our adversary’s position.
I observed the gigantic blue and black snow topped mountains, decorated by the richest green trees, and shaded by low thick clouds.
I knew this was the last glimpse of peace I’d see for a long time to come.


The fog began to lift and I looked back towards the adversary.
Their armor was imprinted was a thick letter L.
They looked stronger and far more daunting in comparison with my soldiers.
And with a hint of doubt I turned to my soldiers, but was relieved at the fact that we greatly out-numbered our adversary.
Our armor was imprinted with a thick letter F.

Turning back to the battle field, I took a deep breath, raised my rifle, and shot into the air signaling the initial attack.
As leader, I was supposed to wait while my front line headed out first, but after the black smoke of my rifle vanished into the air I saw a sparkling spot in the center of this vast space separating our two armies.
Like a bee to pollen, I was forced towards this mystifying sparkle.
Tapping the sides of my stallion, we were off at a speed I’d never known.
As I closed in on this sparkle my soldiers were not far behind and my adversary drew closer from in front of me.

Upon my arrival, I discovered the sparkle to be nothing more than a tiny white daisy with a gleaming yellow center, shrouded by the thickest arrangement of petals.
I searched quickly for others, but it was the only one.
Its beauty captivated me so immensely that I didn’t want it to be destroyed by the two stampeding armies.
I pulled it from the earth slowly as to keep the roots intact and held it in a space between my armor and my chest.

As I turned away to head back to my prior position amongst my army, there you were charging on your white stallion, as clear leader of your army.
I couldn’t bear the sight of you, so I whipped my stallion to gallop harder, faster.
As I rode swiftly away I knew that my chance of survival was slim.
I knew that if you caught me, you’d find the daisy and have the pleasure of its beauty just as I did.
I could not allow that to happen, and with tears showering down my cheeks I tore the petals off the daisy one by one.

As I rode away, I heard the constant crack of your rifle go off and I dodged the bullets that flew past my head.
And as I tore away each petal the wind carried them in trail behind me.
As each floated through the wind and bounced off your armor you did your best to dodge them as I did your bullets.
I rode as fast as I could while each new shot grew closer and more precise.
Despite my fear I did not give up.
I kept riding on.
I kept tearing petals.

My soldiers were holding off your army, but no one seemed to be able to stop you.
You kept coming.
And I kept on forward as I was getting down to the final few petals of this once magnificent flower.

Realizing it would be better to face you than be a coward and keep running, I took hold of the straps around my stallions head and pulled up, forcing her to turn towards you.
I jumped off her quickly and whispered, “Go. Be free. Run.”
I saw you do the same to your stallion and he did as you commanded.

You still had your rifle in your hand as you walked towards me.
At this distance from our armies all that could be heard were the whistles of the wind and the crunching of the grass beneath your feet.
The wind was strong so I tore off the next petal and let it go into the wind.
Watching it soar away, our stallions came into view and I watched as they were running away as one towards a path beneath the blue and black snow topped mountains.

I looked back at you.
You now had your rifle raised.
I walked towards you pulling off the second to last petal.
As I tore the petal you saw my lips moving, but due to the strengthening sounds of the wind all you heard was, “…me not.”

You loaded your rifle and I walked right up towards it.
I stood directly in front of it to show you that I had no fear.
Then taking the daisy with its one last petal, I placed its smooth green stem into the hole of the dark tunnel holding your bullet.
I knew what was about to happen.
You didn’t.
You couldn’t see.
You didn’t know.
For it was just me behind my armored helmet.
And as you took your shot, the bullet, with a flash, kissed the daisy forcing it out towards me.

After the shot was made the final petal was torn from the daisy and it floated slowly through the wind, spiraling down directly onto my now open armored helmet.
There I lay on the ground, free from this battle because of you.
And it was such a shame that as that last petal was torn I couldn’t tell myself in time,
“You Love Me.”