Dandelions - A Short Story “Woah” That was the one word which escaped from my mouth as I stared at the countless dandelions in the wide field. The afternoon heat burned over us as we sat down between the flowers. “How did you find this place?” The silence and beauty seemed strange, almost unreal, as a slight breeze brushed against the dandelions. After months of explosions and bloodshed, I’d almost forgotten that such peace existed. “I have my ways” That breezy answer was one I hated, but I let it pass as my cat, Cherry, purrs and leaped onto my lap. I stroke Cherry as you lay down on your back. Our group of best friends had shrunk since second grade, to a point were there were only two of us girls left. But you and I, we were inseparable. “Hey, remember Kayla?” My heart starts race once again, and worries came back as I notice the fear in your voice. You laugh at my tensed face. “Girl, don’t worry! I was just messing with you!” I throw a playful punch at you as I joined your laughter. You smile and pluck a dandelion. “Pluck one, too!” “Why?” “Just do it!” I pluck a flower as gently as I could, and look at you. “Make a wish, and blow it away!” You close your eyes as I stare blankly at you. In all the years we’ve been best friends, you’ve never bothered to explain your instructions to me clearly. “Uh” I tilt my head back, thinking about all the things in the world I would want now. Peace. Safety. Joy. I squeeze my eyes shut to make a wish. “May the war end” That’s all I could summon I open my eyes and blow at the seeds of the flower. You were still lying amidst the flowers; and I didn’t want to bother you. I watched the breeze carry the seeds far and wide, and I hoped, with all my heart, that my wish would come true. The war had been interfering in my life for too long, I don’t want to go through that anymore. Every moment, I’m expecting gunshots or bombs. If this wish would come true, then, all would be good. I didn’t, of course, believe that the dandelion would do anything, but to see the seeds scatter like the refugees of my country, it gave me a little hope, that peace would come soon…
