A Perfect World

In a perfect world there would be no war, no killing, no hurt. The war had forced Daisy to mature in ways she couldn't have imagined. She never thought the day would come when she'd be faced with such difficult decisions and be able to handle them with a level head. In any other circumstance she would be giggling with pride over her new found maturity, but in any other circumstance she wouldn't be so mature as to marry a dying man she didn't love.

Still, she found herself wondering, "What is love?" Daisy was fairly certain that Anna was in love with Mr. Bates. She could tell by her devotion to him even in his absence. And Daisy was fairly certain that O'Brien loved no one but herself, which was evident in the way she stabbed others in the back without a second thought. Did Daisy love William? She knew that she cared for him and would do anything to make him die a happy man, even marry him. It was a huge sacrifice on her part. Was that love? Even thinking about a world without William in it made her throat tighten. The thought of his impending death made her cry. Was that love?

Daisy didn't often think of such heavy things and all the thinking gave the poor girl a headache. But she couldn't stop thinking about William. She was almost certain that she loved him. If only she had known sooner, rather than waiting for their deathbed marriage to realize it. She lamented over all the opportunities she'd wasted; all the times she could have held him in her arms or whispered sweet secrets in his ear.

She realized it was no use crying over lost opportunities. She could make up for it now while William was still alive. She dried her eyes on her apron and went off to his room to comfort her dying love.

"William?" she whispered as she creaked open the door. He was asleep in his bed. She crept over to him and knelt beside the bed, taking his hand in hers and holding it to her cheek. "Oh, William – I wish I'd known sooner how much I love you. I wish I could take back all the hurt from you and marry you proper." She was overcome with emotion just then and laid her head upon his chest to cry. A strong hand stroked her hair and she looked up.

"Daisy…" he croaked.

"You're awake!"

Daisy scrambled to her feet and hung her head. "I shouldn't of bothered you."

"You're not bothering me, Daisy. Just the opposite. I was hoping to see my bride before the wedding." He reached out a hand and took hers, pulling her beside him on the bed. She snuggled into his chest and sighed.

"I love you, William."

He kissed the top of her head. "I love you too, Daisy."

"I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"I'm sorry we can't have a real wedding, I'm sorry I can't raise a family with you. I'm so sorry it has to end like this."

"Well I'm not sorry." William said.

Daisy was surprised. She looked into his eyes and saw pride.

"I'm honored to marry you at all, Daisy. You've made me a very happy man. I can die happy now because I'll have you for my wife."

Daisy smiled meekly. It didn't matter that it had taken her all this time to realize her love for William. What mattered was that she loved him now, while he was still hers to hold, and their love was that which defied death. She knew now that she'd love him forever. Even if another man came into her life, even if she married him and had a family, she knew William would always have a special place in her heart. He would never die so long as he lived on in her heart.