Peony

“What’s up, little flower? Missing your boyfriends?” I shudder as The General’s loud brash bark reaches me from across the road.

“We should go over and say hello,” my mother suggests, pausing before she’s had a chance to unlock the door.

“Mum, no. I don’t want to be late.”

“We have plenty of time, and it’s just a hello,” she replies, ignoring my protests and crossing the street to speak to Zie’s dad.

I stubbornly wait by the car until my mum scolds me for being rude and I reluctantly trudge over.

“The General was just commenting on how much we all seem to miss having the boys around, Odile. I can’t believe it’s only been a fortnight.”

“Mmmm,” I give a noncommittal answer. Two whole weeks of not hearing from the boys at all. I mean, I know we agreed to have some space so that they could settle in, but I didn’t expect them to ghost me completely.

I’m burning to reach out and contact them again, but I don’t want to appear any weaker and more pathetic than they already think I am.

“I thought it would be nice if we all got together for dinner. At our place? This weekend?”

Before I can beg mum not to accept that invitation, she’s agreeing and plans are being made. Dread sits like a stone in my throat and I’m unable to speak. They say their goodbyes, The General’s eyes lingering on me too long and the stone falls heavily to the bottom of my stomach.

With a feeble wave, I walk back to the car feeling heavier and more weighed down than ever.