WHAT YOU SHORTEN, YOU CANT LENGTHEN
Whenever Daisy showed her wedding photos to friends, she would always sigh and say,
Oh, I suffered in that dress! It was beautiful, but so heavy and unwieldy! Next time I get married, Im choosing something light and airy.
Everyone assumed Daisy was joking and would laugh along with her. Indeed, she was. Her friends knew Daisy had married Albert for love. It was the classic holiday romance: Daisy, just 21, Albert, 28.
August, warm sea breezes, sparkling cider, star-filled skies, romance in the air… All those ingredients led them, inevitably, to the registry office. But first, Albert had to divorce his second wife, and Daisy had to move back to his hometown with him.
The LondonBrightonLondon route would become as familiar to Daisy as her own street for the next ten years. But in the early days, the newlyweds had to rent a flat: Albert had given his own to his second wife, who had threatened anything from swallowing a bottle of pills, to dousing Alberts next wife in bleach, to leaping out the window if he dared not return to her! But eventually, the drama faded. Perhaps Albert promised to return? As for his first wife, Albert barely mentioned her. That marriage had fizzled out after a year and a half; he’d soon helped her marry his friendeveryone happier for it.
His second wife lasted a bit longerthree years before Albert wised up to her, frankly alarming ways. She called children human offspring and didnt want any. All these domestic dramatics didnt faze Daisy. She was independent, ambitious, and confident in her beauty and uniqueness. Albert positively adored her, convinced hed found paradise on earth. When he bought her flowers, it was in great armfuls; if a coat, then three to choose from; as for shoes and boots, she could swap pairs daily. Albert whisked Daisy off to London, Paris, and across Europe, broadening her horizons before they had their first child.
Soon their daughter, Emily, was born. While Daisy cared for the baby, Albert bought them a cottage, furnished it with every comfort, always mindful of his girls.
They celebrated their new home. Emily went into nursery, and Daisy threw herself into self-educationbut always in her hometown, London. Her friends, mum, and even strangers felt warm and familiar there. The linden trees brought peace.
She left Emily with Alberts mother, who doted on the little girl, while Daisy was away for her studies in London. Albert was desperately jealousmaking surprise visits and trying to accidentally bump into Daisy, even in another city! It seemed Daisy gave no reason for suspicion. At least, so everyone thought…
The truth is, Daisy was always itching to escape family duties. Shed study and study, anything to avoid washing up, mopping floors, tending to her husband, or raising a child. She convinced herself life was slipping bywhy should such a clever, lovely woman like her fritter time on humdrum monotony?
Soon Daisy had three degrees tucked into her handbag, all top honours, her main one in psychology. She kept her certificates close as she enthusiastically job hunted. Albert was dead set against it.
Weve plenty of money; Ill go mad waiting for you to come home from work! Daisy, lets have a son. Or another daughter. I dont mind, so long as youre here.
Daisy had no desire for another child. She felt shed fulfilled her purposegiven her husband a daughter, given a daughter life. Job done. Her mother-in-law, hearing Daisys philosophical musings, offered to take in Emily herself. Give Daisy time to mature…
Daisy agreed without hesitationand off she went, not even telling Albert until she arrived in London. Ill call from home, she decided.
But in London, Albert was waiting. He saw right through his wifes little schemes. Daisy, wheres Emily? Why are you here and not in Brighton? Got yourself an admirer? he snapped.
Albert, dont worry! No admirers. Im just… bored with you, you know? I want freedom! Daisy replied coolly.
Freedom? From me and from Emily? Whatever happened to love? Is it gone? Maybe youre having a midlife crisis? We could get through it together, Daisyits nothing! Albert pleaded.
We wont get through… I want out. Daisys words hung heavy, final.
Albert sought advice from his mother-in-law. She only shrugged, What can I do? Sort it out yourselves. But you wont talk Daisy round, dear. Shes stubborn as a rock!
Albert returned to Brighton alone, lost. How to make sense of things, bring back his wife and family? He felt utterly rejected.
Days passed, weeks went by Daisy didnt return. Shed answer his calls, curtly. Im fine.
Meanwhile, time ticked on…
After much soul searching, Albert decided to sell their home, collect Emily, and move to Londonto save his family. Daisy greeted the idea coolly, tried to dissuade him. No sense in uprooting Emily, making her leave her friends, her school… and mum wouldnt like it.
But, in truth, these were just excuses. Daisy was revelling in her freedom, living by her motto: as free as a bird. Shed launched her own businessa sewing shoprented a flat, and attracted admirers. Life was busy, vibrant. Why go back? To Daisy, the past felt like it belonged to someone else.
Albert ignored her protests and moved to London with Emily. He still hoped to reunite their family. His enduring love for Daisy refused to fade. Hed meet Daisy after work, bring Emily round (who, by now, was a spitting image of her mum). But it was pointless. Daisy was numb, unmoved, not even a flicker of emotion. At last, Daisy put it straight:
Albert, leave me alone. Its time we divorced. Emily can come to me if she wants.
But Emily was eleven nowshe didnt need a place to stay. She had a loving father and a grandmother who cherished her above all else. She missed her mum, loved her, but couldnt understand why shed been left behind like that, so voluntarily.
Time marched on, unstoppable as ever.
Life continued. What goes around comes around.
Albert stopped fishing where there were no fish. By now, he knew there was no reaching Daisys heart.
Fate brought Albert an ordinary woman, Jennifer, firmly rooted in realityno flights of fancy. They settled in a little village. Jennifer had two sons from a previous marriage. She didnt want trips to Paris, fur coats, or a hundred pairs of shoesjust a pair of wellies for autumn mud, a warm jumper for chores, and to raise the kids well. That was all she dreamed of.
With Jennifer, Albert finally found peace and warmth. Where things are simple, a hundred angels dwell; where things are complicated, not a single one. Soon, a daughter arrived. At last, with his fourth chance, Albert discovered true happinessa pure, genuine love he had never known before. He spoke little of his first three marriages, as if reluctant to disturb the past.
Daisy now lives with her mother in her mums house. An ex-partner once promised Daisy the starsthen left her bankrupt. Her sewing business unravelled, and her admirers vanished without trace.
In short, the suitors came, the suitors went… now not one remains. Daisy now works as a school counsellorher degrees finally coming in handy. She claims not to regret anything. Still… the human soul has depths one may never plumb. Perhaps Daisythe bird of the skymight yet feel a spark of remorse? No one knows…
Emily grew up; shes married now, living with her grannythe one who raised herback in Brighton.
On her wedding day, Emily wore a dress that was light and airy. It was a gift from her mother, Daisy.
Life reminds us: you cant always undo whats cut short. Think before you act, treasure the people close to you, and dont mistake fleeting freedom for lasting happiness. For what you shorten, you cannot return.
