“Max, you took the wrong turn. We should’ve gone further,” exclaimed Daisy.
“I took the right turn,” Max replied calmly, steering deeper into the woods down a narrow country lane.
“There’s supposed to be a small clearing right here. But there isn’t,” Daisy said, glancing around. “Let’s turn back and go a bit farther. Max, are you listening? Stop!”
But Max kept driving, with no intention of stopping. Daisy could tell he already knew they’d gone the wrong way. The road grew narrower, grass sprouting between the ruts. The road to the holiday village should’ve been well-travelled and wide. Instead, they were just diving deeper into the woods.
“Stop!” Daisy snapped, properly annoyed now. “Are you even listening to me?”
“Where am I supposed to stop? There’s no room to turn around. Let me just find a gap in the trees—”
“Because you should’ve reversed ages ago. You never listen to me. Stubborn as a mule.” Daisy crossed her arms and glared ahead. He’d never admit he was wrong. Why was that so hard?
Branches scraped against the car, yellow leaves fluttering onto the bonnet. Finally, Max stopped. A heavy silence settled in the car.
“Couldn’t you have just stopped earlier? Now we’re god knows where. At least it’s not a swamp.”
“How many times have I told you—don’t backseat drive,” Max snapped.
Daisy scowled. Max turned the ignition and cautiously reversed. She held her breath, watching the side mirror, afraid the car would hit a tree. It took ages to inch back out. A couple of times, they nearly got stuck. Finally, they reached the main road again.
“Couldn’t you have just reversed in the first place?” Daisy muttered, though the anger had ebbed now that they were out of the woods.
“And you always have to be right, don’t you? You don’t even notice how you’re constantly lecturing me, bossing me around. You think I like that?” Max’s voice was sharp now.
“What, Max? So that’s why you didn’t stop? Out of spite? And did that make you feel better? Well, you missed the mark here. So, are we going or what? We’ve already wasted enough time thanks to your stubbornness.” The tension gave her a headache.
Lately, they’d been bickering over everything. Was it just adjustment or were feelings cooling? The rose-tinted glasses had come off, and now they saw each other clearly. The fights were always over small things. But life was made of small things. And you couldn’t just ignore them.
“You’re ordering me around again. You don’t even realise it,” Max accused.
“I’m not ordering you. Fine, then let’s just stay here. I don’t even want to go anymore.” Daisy leaned back against the headrest, shutting her eyes, making it clear she was done arguing.
It had all started so perfectly. They’d met on a beach by chance. Her friend had gone to change, and the sun was scorching Daisy’s fair, sensitive skin. The only person nearby was a tanned, athletic guy. She walked over, holding out a tube of sunscreen.
“Could you help me? Put this on my back—I’ll burn otherwise.”
The guy flashed her a gorgeous smile and took the tube. Daisy turned, and his warm, broad hand smoothed the lotion over her back, sending shivers through her. She’d confess later that was the moment she fell for him.
She melted under his touch like ice cream in the sun. Embarrassed, she turned back.
“Thanks, I’ll do the rest.” She took the lotion and walked off to her beach towel.
Her friend came back, and they went for a swim. The guy followed. They got chatting. Her friend liked him too but stepped aside when she saw the spark between Daisy and Max.
They started dating. Max walked her home that day and kissed her. After that, they were inseparable. Max was impulsive, a quality Daisy—quiet and home-loving—found thrilling.
A month later, after a stormy argument with her parents, Daisy moved in with Max. Normally obedient, she’d dug her heels in this time. The passion, the novelty of adult life, the joy of being close… Daisy was sure it would always be like this. If someone had told her they’d be fighting like this a year later, she wouldn’t have believed them.
But… no one was perfect, and no love came without arguments. The rose-tinted glasses were off, and now they noticed each other’s flaws—the little habits that grated. Now this drive.
Daisy hadn’t even wanted to come. She felt out of place with Max’s mates. She’d only been to the holiday cottage once before, for New Year’s, and remembered the clearing past the exit.
Max stayed silent, drumming his fingers on the wheel.
“Stop tapping,” Daisy said.
She felt his sharp glare but kept her eyes shut. Max started the engine and pulled onto the road when there was a gap in traffic.
“Alright, navigation expert, point out the turn this time,” Max said minutes later.
Daisy opened her eyes and looked around.
“I think… we missed it,” she admitted sheepishly.
“Don’t tell me that’s my fault. You could’ve paid attention,” he frowned. “What now?”
“Stop here.”
This time, Max obeyed right away. A car whizzed past, honking.
“Let’s not go,” Daisy blurted.
“Why?” Max was surprised.
“Everything’s gone wrong. I don’t like this,” she admitted.
“Always with the dramatics. Don’t want this, feel that… We’re nearly there, and now you want to bail? Don’t be ridiculous. Daisy—where are you going?” he exclaimed as she opened the door.
“I’m not going. I don’t want a full-blown row. You go—your mates are waiting,” she said sarcastically, slamming the door.
“Daisy, stop. Get back in. You should’ve just said you didn’t want to come,” Max shouted.
“I did say!”
Max got out too, grabbing her elbow.
“Where are you going? It’s not safe out here. Get in the car.”
“Your mates are waiting. Go. Buses stop here.” She yanked her arm free.
“Last chance. Get in the car,” Max said through gritted teeth.
Daisy stayed silent, staring at the road.
“Fine.” Suddenly, he turned and walked back.
The door slammed, the engine roared. Daisy couldn’t believe he’d actually leave her there. But the car swerved around her and sped off, leaving exhaust fumes in its wake. She watched it go, hoping he’d stop, reverse, and let her in. A joke gone too far. But he didn’t come back.
Five minutes. Ten. Nothing.
Daisy crossed the road and started walking back the way they’d come, thumb out as rain drizzled down.
Before long, brakes screeched behind her. “Max!” she whirled around—but it was a stranger’s car. A foreign-looking guy grinned through the window.
“Need a lift, love? I’m heading into town,” he called. “You’ll catch your death out here.”
Daisy searched the road for Max’s car. Fine. She reached for the door handle—then spotted another guy in the back seat.
“Sorry, I’m waiting for my husband.” She stepped back, turned, and hurried off. The car followed, the window down, urging her in again before finally driving off.
Daisy exhaled. The rain thickened, soaking her jacket, trickling down her neck.
She kept stopping, looking for Max’s car. How could he leave her? Fine, they’d fought, but surely he’d cooled off by now. Why had she called him a stubborn mule? She knew he was sensitive. Her fault.
She rummaged for her phone—then remembered leaving it at home.
“Just my luck!” she cried.
Max had probably been ringing non-stop, not knowing she didn’t have it.
“Max, please come back,” she whispered, shivering.
She trudged on, arms tucked into her thin jacket.
Another car honked. A van stopped.
“Need a lift, love? Going into town?” a man in his forties asked, curtains drawn over the windows.
Daisy shook her head. He waited, then drove off.
Daisy walked on, crying from cold and hurt, hands buried in her pockets. She didn’t know how long she’d gone when a voice called out. A car stopped, a woman leaning out.
“Get in. You’re soaked—you’ll catch your death.”
Exhausted, Daisy climbed in, checking the back seat first.
“Someone hurt you?” the woman guessed.
Daisy trembled, tears mixing with rain.
“Warm up.” The woman turned on the seat heater.
Soon, warmth spread through Daisy’s limbs.
“Tissues in the glovebox.”
DShe smiled through her tears, finally feeling safe, and whispered a silent thank you to the stranger who’d reminded her that even in the darkest moments, kindness could still find you.
