The Bouquet
Lily lay with her eyes closed. Across the room, on the other bed, Holly sat cross-legged, reading aloud from her textbook. Lily’s phone burst to life with a pop ringtone. Holly snapped her book shut and shot her friend a disapproving look.
Lily answered reluctantly, then sat bolt upright. A second later, she flung the phone aside, jumped up, and dashed around the cramped room, shoving clothes into a gym bag from the wardrobe.
“Where are you going? What’s happened?” Holly asked, worried.
“The neighbour called—Mum’s been taken to hospital, a heart attack.” Lily zipped the bag shut and headed for the door, where their jackets hung and boots lay in a messy pile.
“But our exam’s tomorrow! She’s in good hands. Take the exam, then go,” Holly said, standing as Lily tugged on her boots.
“Listen, Hol, sort things out with the faculty. I’ll be back to fix it all. I’ll take the exams later. My bus leaves in forty minutes.” Lily was already fastening her coat.
“Call me when you know how your mum is,” Holly called, but Lily was already out the door. The click of her heels faded down the corridor.
Holly shrugged and turned back, then spotted Lily’s phone charger on the bed. She grabbed it and sprinted barefoot after her.
“Lily! Lily, wait!” she shouted, clattering down the stairs.
The front door slammed below. Holly leaped over the last few steps, shoved the door open, and nearly tumbled outside after her.
“Lily!”
Lily turned, saw the charger in Holly’s hand, and jogged back.
“Thanks.” Then she was off again.
“Williams, what’s all this racket? One of you nearly took the door off, the other’s running about barefoot in the street. Been at the fags, have you?” The caretaker, Mrs. Higgins, pushed herself up from her desk.
“Sorry, Mrs. Higgins, we don’t smoke,” Holly said, shifting uncomfortably. The cold pavement bit into her bare feet, grit and tiny stones pressing into her skin. The ice outside the dorm was thick with sand.
“Lily’s mum’s in hospital. It’s freezing—can I go?” Without waiting for an answer, Holly bolted back upstairs.
“Oh, Lord!” Mrs. Higgins sank heavily into her chair and crossed herself. “God preserve us!”
Back in the room, Holly brushed the grit off her feet, tidied Lily’s scattered things, slipped on slippers, and grabbed the kettle for tea. The exam was tomorrow—warmth and caffeine would help her focus.
It was dark when a soft knock came at the door.
“Who is it?” Holly called. No answer.
She sighed, got up, and opened the door.
“Hey,” said Ben, holding out a small bouquet.
“Come in.” Holly waited until he stepped inside before adding, “Lily’s gone home.”
“But her exam’s tomorrow,” Ben said, surprised.
“I’ll talk to the faculty—she can retake it next term. Her mum’s ill.” Holly’s eyes lingered on the flowers.
“These are for you,” Ben said, offering them.
“Thanks. Fancy some tea?” She took the bouquet to the windowsill, picking up an empty jar.
“I’ll get water. You make yourself comfortable.” She smiled and slipped out.
Ben only took off his shoes before crossing to Lily’s bed. He sat and ran a hand over the cheap duvet, as if smoothing her hair.
Holly returned, set the jar with the flowers on the desk, stepped back, and admired them.
“Pretty. What are they?”
“Sweet peas,” Ben said. “I should go.” He stood.
“Wait—did you and Lily have plans?” Holly asked quickly, unwilling to let him leave.
“Yeah. I got us tickets to that gig.”
“Really? Well, take me instead. No point wasting them.”
Ben hesitated.
“You’ve got an exam tomorrow.”
“So?” Holly waved a hand. “I’ve been studying all day—I need a break.”
Ben considered it. Lily was gone, the tickets would go unused. They’d only just started seeing each other—it wasn’t serious. Going with her roommate wasn’t betrayal, was it?
“Alright,” he said.
“Brilliant!” Holly jumped, clapping. “Oh, wait outside—just need to get dressed.”
“Right.” Ben laced his shoes and stepped out.
Five minutes later, Holly emerged. Ben noticed she’d swiped on mascara and lipstick, pinned up her hair. How had she managed that so fast?
“Come on, we’ll be late,” he urged.
At the gig, Holly danced, arms in the air, screaming along with the crowd in exhilaration. Now and then, she glanced at Ben. He caught her energy, loosened up, and shouted along too.
Afterward, they walked back, buzzing about the show.
“I loved that bit,” Holly hummed a snatch of melody.
“Yeah! And when they did—” Ben mimicked the guitar riff, mangling a few lyrics.
They reached the dorm. Holly rattled the locked door.
“Mrs. Higgins is on tonight—she won’t open up. What now?” She turned to Ben, flustered.
“This way.” He hooked her arm and steered her along the building. Rounding the corner, they spotted two girls climbing through a ground-floor window. “Quick—before they shut it.”
He boosted Holly up; hands grabbed her from inside, lifting her like she weighed nothing. Just then, a shrill whistle cut the air.
“Come on!” Holly hissed from the window.
Ben hauled himself up, dropped inside, and Holly yanked the curtain shut. The whistle faded. They all exchanged glances.
“Cheers, girls—we’ll get going,” Ben nudged Holly toward the door.
Sniggers followed them. They dashed up to the second floor, breathless, before Mrs. Higgins returned to her post, then collapsed into Holly’s room, laughing.
“Better keep it down—I’ll head off,” Ben said, still grinning.
The room was dark—they hadn’t turned the lights on.
“Stay. I like you. A lot,” Holly whispered fiercely, as if someone might hear.
She pressed against him, tilted her head back, lips parted—
Lily returned to the quiet dorm at the end of term. Holly and Ben hadn’t come back yet, like most students. Lily arranged her missed exam, presenting the hospital note. The danger had passed, but her mum was still there.
She scraped through the exam. Classes resumed, but Holly never came back—no calls, no word. The faculty said she’d taken leave for health reasons.
Soon, a new girl moved in. Studies, Ben… No time to dwell on Holly. Before long, everyone forgot her. Ben never mentioned the gig, what happened after. It felt like a dream—maybe nothing had.
Twenty-one years later.
“Mum, Dad, I’m home!” A girl who looked just like Ben walked in.
“How’s uni?” He lowered his newspaper.
“Let her change first,” Lily called from the kitchen. “Dinner’s almost ready.”
Soon, they were all at the table.
“Mum, Dad, today I met a girl at uni who looks exactly like me. Everyone noticed.”
“Funny how that happens. They say everyone’s got a double. Rare you meet them, though. Another roast potato?” Lily asked Ben.
“Dad, you spaced out,” their daughter, Emily, said.
“Thanks, I’m full. Did you talk to her? The girl?”
“Course,” Emily said around a mouthful. “She’s a final-year. Get this—her name’s Claire, and her surname’s… Bright.”
“Back in uni, my roommate was Holly—Holly Bright, I think. Remember, Ben? She left after first year.” Lily studied him.
“That’s it! Claire Bright. Lovely name, isn’t it?” Emily exclaimed.
“I only had eyes for your mum—didn’t notice other girls,” Ben said, sipping tea, then spluttering. “How many times have I said not to pour boiling water? Burnt my tongue.”
“Sorry.” Lily fetched cold water for his cup.
“Not hungry.” Ben stood abruptly.
“Really that alike?” Lily asked his retreating back.
“Everyone says so…”
Ben lay on the sofa, pretending to nap, thoughts racing. “Coincidence? Or… it happened. Stop pretending you forgot. That’s why she left. Idiot. What were you thinking?”
“Ben, you’ll ruin your sleep,” Lily said softly. “You alright?”
“Fine.”
He barely slept. In the morning, he called in sick—a toothache, he claimed—then drove to the dorm.
“Does Claire Bright live here?” he asked the caretaker.
A different woman, but eerily like Mrs. Higgins from back then. All caretakers blurred together.
“Who’re you?” she said sharply.
“Her uncle. Just passing through—”
She eyed himThe woman narrowed her eyes, but just then, Claire herself walked past, and Ben’s heart clenched as he took in her face—so much like Holly’s, so much like Emily’s, and he knew, no matter what came next, their lives would never be the same again.
