The title comes from one of my favorite songs, by The Cranberries.

DAFFODIL LAMENT

SOMEWHERE, IN ATLANTA

Josephine looked thoughtfully outside the window, the city of Atlanta fading and Hazzard taking its place.

"Hey Jo, wake up." Her friend Ellen entered the kitchen and smiled, "Forget of your past life."

Jo turned to Ellen, "It isn't so easy."

Ellen sat at the table and took Jo's right hand in hers, smiling sweetly, "I know."

Jo looked at her ring finger and at the sign of her wedding ring.

Ellen caught Jo's look, "Stop thinking of him. He can't hurt you anymore. You have finally had the nerve to run away from him, and now you have to think of your new life. Start things from here."

Jo nodded, "You're right. I like my new job at the bakery, and I like to share the apartment with you. But…"

"… but you can't forget 'bout your husband. I'm happy you have finally decided to leave him, but I think you should have reported him a lot of time ago."

Jo sighed, "I know it. I tried, really. But every time I tried it, at the end I was unable to talk 'bout it. Some time ago I was goin' to say everything to the deputy, but… I couldn't. Too much embarrassing. I was in front of him, crying like a baby, and I managed just to find an excuse, a stupid excuse 'bout my bein' there and my crying."

Ellen opened her eyes wide, "Embarrassing? A woman abused by her husband isn't embarrassing, but shameful. Shame on him! Not on you! And you should have talked 'bout it with that deputy."

Jo wiped a tear with her left hand, "It's embarrassing, talking to someone 'bout it. You are a woman, a close friend, I know you since when I was a child before to meet him, marry him and leave Atlanta for Hazzard. I can talk to you 'bout it, but not to… a man, a cop," she blushed, "though a kind cop."

Ellen smiled, catching Jo's blushing, "Is the deputy of Hazzard so kind?"

Jo shrugged, "Yeah, a kind guy. Everybody in Hazzard likes him," she glanced at Ellen, "OK! Stop looking at me that way. I confess that his kindness really moved me. And my feelings are one of the reasons why I left Hazzard: when my husband asked me why I went to the Police Department, the way he asked me why I met the deputy… it scared me. He would kill both me and my supposed lover if he thought I'm cheating him!"

Ellen opened her eyes wide, "Killing? Come on!"

Jo stared at her, "Yeah, killing. Trust me, he is insane, and the most scaring thing is his ability to hide this side of him. I can't believe I didn't realized it when I met him; at the beginning his jealousy was somehow pleasant, I felt protected and also flattered, and when I realized it was a prison, it was too late."

Ellen shivered, "Oh my God. Do you think he is looking for you? Maybe he asked for help at the Police Department 'bout your missing."

Jo laughed, a bitter laugh, "Police Department? If he asks for help 'bout my missing, he would focus everybody's attention on him, and this is the last thing he would do. I guess he told everybody I left Hazzard because of my mother: some years ago my mother had some serious health's problems, and I stayed with her for some months. Nobody in Hazzard would be surprised if he said I'm actually staying by my mother's side, until he'll find a new excuse… or a way to find me."

"Really creepy." Ellen stood up and walked to the door, "You should go out and have some fun instead of thinking of these creepy things. I'm planning to go out with some of my friends, one of the next evenings; it depends on our shifts."

Jo looked at the sunset outside the window, "Night shift. I'm happy I didn't become a nurse like you, I don't like to work at night."

Ellen shrugged, "You get used to it. Anyway, I have some good friends among my colleagues at the Atlanta Medical Center. Especially Dolly, she can really cheer you up with her strange stories. You'll like her."

"Does she work in your department?"

Ellen shook her head, "No. She works in the I.C.U. Some time ago she was really excited because of a strange case… a case of John Doe. But I had no chance to meet her and to talk 'bout it," she winked, "Don't worry, when we'll go out, for sure she'll tell us everything."

Jo smiled, "So, I hope she will distract me from my creepy thoughts."

Ellen glanced at the clock, "It's late. See you tomorrow." Before to leave, she came closer the table of the living room and she inhaled the scent of the flowers in the pot at the center of the table, "I love this scent. It relaxes me."

Jo smiled, "Daffodils. Their botanic name is narcissi, and they symbolize rebirth and new beginnings. It's why I chose them."

HAZZARD

Inside the living room at the farm, everybody was lost in his thoughts, their thoughts around the same question.

Enos stood up and walked to the window, staring at the darkness and answering the question, "I don't know who could be. Really. I never had any problem with folks, and I don't think I had any problem along the two months before I got injured, though I don't remember a thing 'bout it."

Uncle Jesse sighed, "Luke, Bo, Daisy and I were wondering about someone who hates you because of…" he glanced at Daisy, "… because of Daisy and her relationship with you. A matter of jealousy, male jealousy."

Enos turned to uncle Jesse, "Jealousy?" Surprise in his tone, and then denial, "I don't think so. Why now and not years ago, for example? Everybody knows I have had a crush on Daisy since the third grade."

Bo nodded, "But you nearly married her some months ago, and someone tried to kill you few after that day. Maybe someone is trying to stop you before you and Daisy finally get married."

Enos shook his head, "Why not before our nearly wedding?"

Luke shrugged, "Everything happened quickly, that day; your decision and the wedding, everything too much quickly. Maybe he is someone who realized his jealousy after you postponed everything."

Enos turned to Luke, "So, you think he could be a man who has a crush on Daisy and who is jealous of me, don't you?"

Luke nodded, "Exactly."

His hands on his hips, Enos looked down at the floor, "I understand your idea, and it's a possibility. Just a possibility." He walked to the couch and sank into it, blushing a bit, "Yesterday evening I asked Daisy to marry me, and this morning I found that word on the patrol car," he turned to Daisy, "did you talk to someone 'bout my proposal?"

Daisy shook her head, "Nobody but uncle Jesse, Bo and Luke. Nobody else knows 'bout it."

Enos sighed, "My head is exploding. If you don't mind, I need to go to sleep."

Uncle Jesse stood up, "I think it's time to go to sleep for everybody. It's night, and we have to wake up early in the morning."

Bo and Luke stood up and walked to their bedroom, while Daisy followed Enos.

Finally in Enos' bedroom, Daisy hugged him, "I'm so sorry, Enos. If I'm the reason why someone…"

"Stop it, please," he wrapped his arms around her chest, "it isn't your fault."

She buried her face against his chest, a question chocking her since the morning, "What about the wedding, now?" She held her breath and waited for an answer she already knew.

"I can't marry you 'til I'll find out what's happening. I don't want to involve you in this, Daisy. I don't want you to be the youngest widow in Hazzard. If someone is really so jealous 'bout us, what if he is goin' to focus his rage on you beside me?"

Daisy let her breath go, she parted from his hug and she walked to his bed, sitting on it, "I knew you were goin' to say so, and I understand your trying to protect me, but, Enos…"

He sat by her side, "I know what you're goin' to say, 'bout sharing and starting from the bad. But, Daisy, I don't want to start from the bad, 'cause the bad could mean something… really bad. Something we can't solve. You know what I mean, don't you?"

Daisy looked at her hands on her knees, "Don't talk 'bout your death, Enos. I can't stand it."

He closed his eyes and had a deep breath, "Please, go to sleep, now. I need to rest, this headache is killing me."

She rested her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently, "Did you talk 'bout it to Doc Appleby?"

He nodded, his eyes still closed and his right hand covering them, "It's the consequence of my head trauma. It seems I am goin' to live with it for the rest of my life, and it's the same for my scars." No rage in his voice but just sadness.

"Oh Enos," she held her tears and she kissed his cheek, "we're goin' to find who did it to you. Now, have some rest."

He kept his eyes closed until he heard her standing up and walking to the door. When she turned the light off and closed the door, he opened his eyes and lay down, looking at the ceiling and praying he wasn't going to look at a Hospital's new ceiling, or worse.