Chapter Fifteen
San Juan, Puerto Rico
2023
Daisy.
There is a roar in her ears.
Daisy!
DAISY, can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you can hear me, Daisy.
Her name is a beacon, a flare, would you look at that! The strength of it.
Daisy had never cared that much for her name, the simplest flower. She’s never appreciated the plain, robust beauty of it before now. But it is hers. A talisman, with the divine power to pin her to this world.
Daisy!
Again. And behind the sound of her name, behind the roar, there are other noises. A cacophony, a whole percussion section in delight. A rhythmless drumbeat, loud and clamoring, a ruckus on the roof, far too raucous to be the nature of simple rainsplats striking the metal hood of an ambulance. Behind that, another discordant sound, though it all seems like music to Daisy. Euphoria, as her soul shoots into her body once more. Her name, her beautiful name.
Daisy!
And the tuneless wail of a siren.