"There was a time when you were actually happy to see me."
"There war a time when you would have brought me flowers."
He stopped, turned around and looked at her. The queen looked back at him, equally surprised at what she just said. Indeed... she remembered now.
Many years ago, when she was pregnant with the twins, he had also gone on a trip to Toronto. Toronto, of course... She knew that! How could she have come up with Fiji? Anyway... He had gone on a trip to Toronto, and she had stayed in London due to the fact that she measured about two meters in diameter and the doctor feared she might burst any second. Simon had not wanted to go, but matters were urgent. He was so afraid he would miss the birth, and so happy to learn he came back home in time. That day, a bouquet of roses and lilies the size of her own enormous belly entered her private chamber, followed by her husband wearing a beaming smile. And boy, was she happy to see him...
This was long ago, and times had changed. Even though... she was still happy to see him. The realization started as a whisper, a small flame inside of her, but it quickly grew stronger, until it hit her like an entire orchestra. She had missed him.
She lowered her gaze when she realized that they were still both silently staring at each other and looked at the daisy chain in her hands. She thought about last night... About him. Her true love. And then she couldn't help but look up at the kind again. Her breath caught when she saw him turn away and head towards the door without another word. She didn't know why she felt that way all of a sudden. She just knew that she absolutely didn't want him to leave right now.
Flowers... He had always used to bring her flowers, that was true. But that was long ago. Especially that one time when he had come back from... wasn't it also Toronto? She was pregnant with the twins and just about to give birth so she hadn't been able to join him. When he was back, he brought her the biggest flower bouquet London's best florist could put together. The best and biggest for his queen.
That she was for so many years. His queen. He would've done anything for her. Sure, she still was a queen. But more often than not he didn't recognize her anymore. She was right there in front of him, as beautiful as she ever was, or maybe even more... She was a goddess in human form, an epiphany of elegance and a role model to so many. But she had become a stranger to him.
Did she even remember that day when he came back from his trip and brought her flowers? Could they ever go back to how things were, long, long ago, at the very beginning? Did they still have a chance as a couple, as a family, even if one day they'd really not be the king and queen anymore?
Truth was, he had no way of knowing anymore what went on inside her head. He sighed and turned around as this thought was weighing heavily on his heart. There was nothing more to say.
Suddenly, he heard the soft sound of a chair scratching over the carpet, followed by quick steps on high heels coming right at him. And before he could turn around, she wrapped her arms around him and pressed herself against his back.
"Don't go!", she whispered, "Please..."
Her deep voice brushed against his ear and sent a shiver down his spine. But most of all, it sounded desperate, lonely, pleading.
"Tell me about Toronto. Or... whatever. But just... stay with me!"