Daisy carefully folded the New Year's dress back into its box and smiled. Despite the expectancy of a horrible night, it had ended enjoyably, something she had not had in a very long time.

"Daisy?" Miriam poked her head around the bedroom door, "brought you some tea."

"Thanks." She covered the box with its matching lid and placed it on the dressing table.
"I'll clean the dress tomorrow."

Miriam moved into the room and handed Daisy her tea.
"I need to pop by the Art Studio on Monday, I will take it to the dry cleaners and then drop it back at the rental shop."

"Oh, okay." Daisy took a sip of her tea and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Shawn is one of my students and very nice."

"Really? He does art?"

Miriam sat down next to Daisy. "He dabbles in drawing. Did you have a good time? Want to tell me about it?"

"Nothing much to tell really, we met in the hall and went outside. We chatted and walked on the beach. It was good...nice."

"I am glad you met, and it will do you good to get out before school starts."

Daisy took another sip, her smile fading slightly.
"It is like you said, it would not hurt to try and make an effort, right?"

Miriam nodded, a small frown etched between her brows.
"I know things have not been easy, and staying wrapped up inside this room has provided comfort, but you cannot hide forever love. Having a friend or at least someone you know when school starts, might make it easier." She slipped an arm around Daisy's shoulders.
"One day at a time, right?"

Daisy nodded, her fingers tightening around the cup.

"Everything will be fine. Finish your tea and get some sleep." Miriam stood up and walked to the door, pausing on the threshold. "Next time please tell me where you are, okay? Goodnight, love."

Miriam left and closed the door behind her.

Daisy exhaled the breath she had been holding.

One day at a time. Just one day at a time.

***

Monday - Summer Holiday

Miriam replaced the receiver on the phone and turned to Daisy sitting at the kitchen table.
"That was Shawn, he is running a little late but will be here in ten minutes," she announced.

Daisy managed a small smile in acknowledgment before returning her attention to her cup of tea. She had been struggling to keep the nausea down in her stomach from rising into her throat. She should have been excited. But the apprehension she had woken up with peaked when she realized Shawn was late. All her doubts and fears had increased tenfold, washing over her like a tsunami.

Just breathe, Daisy, breathe.

"Daisy?"

"Maybe we should cancel, I don't think this is a good idea."

"Hey, it is going to be okay."

"Yes, but- "

Miriam came to sit down next to Daisy, and reached for a hand, taking it tightly into hers.
"Everything will be okay. You said you like being with Shawn, right? And that is good."

"Maybe this is a sign, of him being late."

"Hey! Everything will be fine."

Daisy shook her head, tugging her hand free and bumping the cup of tea, spilling its contents over the table.

"Hey, look at me," Miriam cupped Daisy's face, "you will be fine. I trust Shawn. I have known him since he was in First Grade, he is a good boy. He can be a great friend, and you need that right now."

"But- "

"One step at a time, Daisy. One step at a time. Okay?"

Daisy nodded reluctantly.

The doorbell rang and Miriam stood up.
"That must be him now, go quickly and grab your stuff, I will open up for him."

Daisy stood and then paused staring at the mess on the table.
"I should- "

"I will clean it, now go!" Miriam ordered, ushering Daisy out of the kitchen.

*

Daisy stood at the top of the staircase, watching her aunt conversing quietly with Shawn. Her hands gripped the straps of her beach bag tightly. A deep frown was wedged between his brows as he listened intently to what Miriam told him.

The blood was pumping in her ears so loudly that she couldn't eavesdrop even if she had wanted to.

Falling asleep in the early hours of Saturday morning, she had prayed that the New Year would bring some normalcy. She had hoped that this would be a step towards it.

Normalcy? Things will never be normal again, the quicker she accepts it, the better everything will be.

Shawn suddenly turned, looking at her. His frown was immediately replaced with a smile.

"Hi," he greeted.

"Hi," Daisy croaked in return, her throat so painfully dry she could hardly swallow.

"Ready to go?" Miriam asked, motioning for Daisy to come down.

Breathe, just breathe.

Daisy nodded and descended the stairs. Since the weather forecast had predicted it would be a hot day, she had opted for a summer tunic dress adorned with little flowers and white sandals. Her hair was loosely tied with a ribbon at the base of the neck, leaving a few strands to frame her face.

Miriam handed her a cell phone when she reached the door.
"Here, I thought you could have this one since— "Miriam took a deep breath. "It has all the numbers where you can reach me, and it has been cleaned out. You can do whatever you want with it, except break or lose it."

Daisy flung her arms around her aunt. "Thank you, Aunty M."

"Okay, okay," Miriam patted Daisy affectionately on the back, "you two should get going and have fun!"

*

Daisy paused on the porch and looked back over her shoulder. Miriam's encouraging nod eased her tightening chest. She allowed Shawn to escort her down the porch and towards the driveway.

"She might not be much to look at, but she is perfectly safe," he declared when he noticed Daisy hesitantly observing his blue 1967 pickup truck.

"I'm sure she is reliable," Daisy murmured uncertainly.

"I take good care of her, and she takes good care of me," he grinned, opening the passenger door.

"She is quite high up," Daisy noted, trying to decipher a way into the truck. Her eyes spotted the sidebar. She tucked the cell phone into her bag and placed it on the seat before reaching for the bar to lift herself. With a seemingly firm grip, she pulled and stepped up, but she underestimated the height from the ground up and gravity toppled her backward, her hand slipping from the bar.

Hands swiftly surrounded her waist to steady her.
"I got you." Shawn held her firmly, allowing her to grab the bar again and pull herself into the truck.

"You good?" he asked as she settled into her seat.

"Yes, thanks," she breathed with a little laugh, "sorry."

Shawn chuckled, "No worries," and closed her door. He made his way around the truck, shooting her a glance through the front window.

He had not known what to expect as he had pulled into Mrs. Shaw's driveway. The whole weekend he had been wondering what he had gotten himself into. But the more he had tried to figure a way out, the more he had realized his offer had not been on a whim. Daisy intrigued him and he wanted to get to know her.

That had been confirmed with absolute certainty when he had seen her standing on the staircase.

Shawn quickly jumped into the driver's seat and turned the key in the ignition.
"Ready? Got everything?"

"How do I buckle in?" Daisy asked.

"Uh, yeah," Shawn leaned over and tucked his hand into the space between the backrest and the seat behind her. After a few seconds, he pulled out the strap. "It keeps getting itself stuck down there."

"Oh?" Daisy raised her eyebrows and smiled, "Okay, well then I guess I am ready." She took a deep breath after securing herself. There was no going back now.

Shawn gave Miriam, who stood on the porch, a nod and a wave before reversing out of the driveway.

*