Blooming Madness M a r t h a r a d c l i f f e Blooming Madness Martha Radcliffe Ovi ebooks are available in Ovi/Ovi eBookshelves pages and they are for free. If somebody tries to sell you an Ovi book please contact us immediately. For details, contact: ovimagazine@yahoo.com No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior permission of the writer or the above publisher of this book An Ovi eBooks Publication 2024 Ovi eBookPublications - All material is copyright of the Ovi eBooks Publications & the writer C Blooming Madness Blooming Madness Martha Radcliffe Martha Radcliffe An Ovi eBooks Publication 2024 Ovi eBookPublications - All material is copyright of the Ovi eBooks Publications & the writer C Blooming Madness E leni had always felt like something was missing in her life. She worked as a marketing executive in a small, windowless office that smelled faintly of coffee and stale paper. Every day was a blur of deadlines, spreadsheets, and trying to look busy while secretly scrolling through funny videos on her phone. Her feet ached from wearing heels that seemed to mock her, and her eyes were perpetually red from staring at the glowing screen. Life, she thought, was like being stuck in a traffic jam: moving forward, but never fast enough. Everything was a little too slow, a little too dull, and Eleni couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more, something important that she was missing. Martha Radcliffe That was until one fateful Wednesday morning. As she sat in the break room, nursing a lukewarm cup of coffee, staring aimlessly at the chipped mug in her hands, something inside her clicked. I know what it is , she thought. The answer had come to her like a flash of divine inspiration. Without warning, she set down her coffee, slapped her hands on the table, and blurted out loud, “I was a flower in my past life!” Maria, her ever-sceptical co-worker, who was busy stapling a pile of invoices, stopped mid-staple and blinked at her. “Sorry, what?” Maria said, completely perplexed. “A flower!” Eleni repeated, her voice filled with the certainty of someone who had just cracked the code to the universe. “A beautiful sunflower. To be exact.” Maria narrowed her eyes, unsure if Eleni had finally snapped. “Right. And this... epiphany came from where exactly? Was it a dream? Did you eat something weird for lunch?” Eleni leaned in, looking as serious as someone about to deliver world-altering news. “No, Maria. It Blooming Madness came from within me,” she said, her tone dramatic, like she was revealing the meaning of life itself. “I just know it. It’s like... the way I love sunlight. And how I’m always reaching for things, like my favourite cookie jar. It’s all connected, don’t you see? I was a sunflower in another life, and now I need to embrace it.” Maria stared at her in stunned silence for a moment before shaking her head slowly. “So, let me get this straight... you were a sunflower... in your past life. And now, you want to act like a flower in this life? Just... to see what it feels like?” Eleni’s face lit up. “Exactly!” she said, as if Maria had just finally understood. “I’m going to embrace my true nature. I’m going to let myself bloom !” Maria blinked again. “Okay... sure. If you say so.” She paused, glancing at Eleni’s serious face. “But how exactly do you plan on doing that, Eleni? Are you going to wear petals or... sprout leaves?” Eleni grinned like she had just discovered the secret to eternal happiness. “I’m going to start with the basics. I’m going to channel my inner sunflower. Just you wait.” Martha Radcliffe Later that afternoon, Eleni decided to put her plan into action. She had already studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror several times, trying to perfect her sunflower-inspired “look.” It was time to take it to the office. As she strode through the hallway toward her desk, Eleni exaggerated every step, swinging her hips dramatically, her arms outstretched like she was reaching for the sun. She turned her face toward the nearest window and sighed deeply, as if soaking in the sunlight that was, unfortunately being blocked by a particularly ugly stack of rain clouds. “Good morning, world!” she announced, her voice as chipper as a Disney princess. She twirled in place, only to realize she had tripped over the corner of a nearby chair. But no matter. She stood up with the grace of someone who had clearly never seen a trip coming. “Sunshine, here I come!” she beamed, her arms still wide open, oblivious to the strange looks from her colleagues. Her co-worker, Greg, looked up from his desk, eyes wide with confusion. “Eleni, what are you doing?” Blooming Madness “I’m basking!” Eleni declared, as if the answer were obvious. “Like a flower. Just soaking in the nutrients. Would you like some tea, Greg? I’m offering it to all the plants around here.” Greg blinked twice. “You’ve... gone full flower, huh?” “Like a daisy in a meadow,” Eleni replied, as if that was the most normal thing in the world. Greg shook his head. “Sure, sure. That’s... that’s nice.” He slowly retreated to the safety of his desk, his eyes glued to his screen. Eleni, undeterred, skipped over to the break room and positioned herself in the corner near the window. There was no sunlight, but that didn’t stop her. She sat perfectly still, adopting the posture of someone who was absolutely at one with their surroundings. She imagined herself as the proud sunflower in the center of a field, basking in the warmth of the sun. Her eyes closed, she pretended to breathe in the energy of the universe. Five minutes passed. Ten minutes passed. Martha Radcliffe The office seemed to forget she was there, or at least, it was trying to. Then, just as Eleni began to drift into a meditative trance, the door to the break room opened with a creak, and there stood Mr. Georgiou, the office manager. He froze in the doorway, his eyes locked onto Eleni, who was still sitting cross-legged in the corner with her arms outstretched, staring serenely ahead. “Eleni?” he asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and thinly-veiled concern. “What are you doing?” “I’m... basking,” Eleni replied, not even opening her eyes. “Like a sunflower. I’m absorbing the world’s energy. Would you like some tea, Mr. Georgiou? I’m happy to share my nourishment.” Mr. Georgiou stared at her for a long moment, clearly trying to figure out if this was some sort of office prank or if he had accidentally wandered into an art installation. “No, no thank you, Eleni. I... I’m fine.” He nodded nervously. “You’re... very... blooming today,” he managed, a look of discomfort crossing his face as he stepped backward toward the door. Before leaving, he paused again, casting one last Blooming Madness glance at her. “Let me know if you need anything, Eleni. Anything at all,” he added, a little too quickly. Eleni opened her eyes and smiled serenely. “I’m good, Mr. Georgiou. I’m... blooming.” As soon as he exited, Eleni let out a quiet giggle to herself. This was going to be fun. Little did her colleagues know, her “flowering” had only just begun. The rest of the day passed in a haze of awkward exchanges and confused glances. Eleni spent the afternoon darting between desks, offering tea to anyone who’d listen and making a game out of pretending to “grow” in the office plants’ vicinity. Maria had wisely gone into hiding, leaving Eleni to wander the office like a happy, flower-loving whirlwind. By 4 p.m., Eleni had decided that her sunflower spirit deserved a grand gesture, something bold that would solidify her transformation once and for all. And so, she returned to her desk with an extra spring in her step. When Greg walked by, she stood up suddenly, flinging her arms wide in a dramatic flourish. “Greg! I’m about to bloom. Watch me!” Martha Radcliffe Greg paused mid-step, eyes wide. “What... What are you doing now?” “Watch closely,” Eleni said, her face shining with excitement. “I’m going to stretch toward the sun!” With that, she leaned back dramatically in her chair, her arms still outstretched, but then— crash! —the back of her chair tipped over and Eleni toppled backward onto the floor with an undignified thud. For a split second, there was silence. Then, Greg burst into laughter. Eleni lay there for a moment, staring up at the ceiling, her arms still spread like the petals of an ill- fated flower. “Maybe next time, I’ll work on my roots,” she muttered, before cracking up herself. “Don’t worry,” Greg called out between giggles, “You’re definitely rooted in here now!” Blooming Madness II. By the following morning, Eleni had fully embraced her transformation into a flower. Her usual routine of fumbling through the day in a haze of coffee and emails had given way to something far more... whimsical. It had taken a full night of deep contemplation, but she knew she had to stick with it. Her colleagues might laugh, but she was rooted in her purpose now. Her day began, as it had every day since her enlightenment, with a carefully choreographed routine she called “photosynthesis.” She would stand by the office window, her arms stretched wide, her face lifted toward the pale light of the morning sun. It was a little awkward, especially since the office faced a parking lot and the nearest window looked out at a large dumpster, but Eleni wasn’t concerned. She was absorbing all the “nutrients” from the light, and that’s all that mattered. Martha Radcliffe As she stood there, basking in the glow of fluorescent sunlight, Maria walked by. Maria, always the practical one, gave her a side glance before looking at her phone. “Good morning, Maria!” Eleni chirped, completely unbothered. “I’m photosynthesizing! You should try it, it’s very rejuvenating!” Maria paused, her eyes narrowing. “Eleni, we’ve talked about this. Photosynthesis ? Really? You’re not even a plant.” Eleni beamed, as though she had been waiting for this very moment. “But I was a flower in my past life! This is just my true self, Maria. Can’t you see it?” Maria sighed and shook her head as she continued walking, muttering under her breath, “Just wait until HR gets involved.” But Eleni was undeterred. This was her calling, and she was going to embrace it. Fully. The universe had spoken, and she had heard it loud and clear: She was a flower, blooming in the desert of this soul-crushing office. Around midday, Eleni had another brainwave. If flowers attract bees, then Eleni should attract... well, Blooming Madness whatever equivalent of bees existed in an office. Maybe it would be people who appreciated her unique perspective. Or, more realistically, people who were curious enough to stare at her while she danced like a confused sunflower. The idea came to her after hearing someone mention a “beeswax candle” in a conversation. With great enthusiasm, she bolted up from her desk, nearly knocking over her half-eaten lunch. She marched over to her drawer, grabbed a garish, oversized flower headband, and plopped it triumphantly on her head. “Look at me, Maria!” she shouted, spinning in a circle as though a strong breeze were blowing her petals. “I’m ready for the bees! Who’s got the honey?” Maria looked up from her spreadsheet, her eyes briefly glazing over before they locked onto the spectacle that was Eleni twirling around the break room. Maria didn’t even bother replying. Instead, she simply lowered her head, pretending to work, though she was not at all convinced that was possible anymore. Eleni spun another few times, her flower crown nearly toppling from her head. “The bees will come, Maria. They always come for the nectar!” Martha Radcliffe Maria, face buried in her hands, groaned. “This is... just wrong on so many levels.” But Eleni wasn’t discouraged. No, in fact, the more she twirled, the more she bloomed . She could feel herself growing taller, more radiant. This was her purpose , her mission to make the world a brighter place, one quirky spin at a time. At 3 p.m., Eleni had a brilliant idea. It was time for the ultimate transformation. No more simply “absorbing light” or “inviting bees.” She was going to go all in. She was going to become the flower she had always known she was. She grabbed her stapler, her paperclips, and a handful of sticky notes. After a few moments of strategic stapling and folding, she had crafted what could only be described as a “flower crown” out of office supplies. It was rough around the edges, but in her eyes, it was a masterpiece, a true homage to her floral essence. Wearing her freshly crafted paperclip crown, Eleni sat back at her desk, her arms extended outward as if to embrace the universe itself. She hummed a soft tune, a melody she imagined a sunflower would sing to itself while basking in the sun. Blooming Madness She had just begun to feel like the embodiment of serenity when her boss, Mr. Georgiou, entered the room. His usual stoic face was scrunched in confusion as his eyes scanned the room for the source of this... disturbance. Then, his gaze landed on Eleni. She was sitting there in her paperclip crown, humming with a look of pure bliss. Mr. Georgiou blinked once, twice, as though the image was too bizarre to process in one go. “Eleni?” he said cautiously, leaning slightly forward. “Are you... okay?” Eleni opened her eyes, beaming up at him as though he had just asked her the most obvious question in the world. “I’m blooming, Mr. Georgiou!” she announced proudly, twirling her flower crown with all the grace of a ballet dancer. “What’s your excuse?” Mr. Georgiou’s mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. It seemed his brain was still trying to catch up with the visual assault he had just experienced. “Uh... right.” He cleared his throat, a nervous chuckle escaping as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “You’re blooming, sure. But... uh, I think I’m going to... take a break. I’ll—I’ll leave you to... flourish.” Martha Radcliffe As he backed toward the door, his hand clutched the doorknob, ready to escape. “Maybe, uh, some time off is in order for me. I’ve got a lot to think about.” Eleni, still fully immersed in her role as a flower, didn’t even bat an eye. “Of course! You’ve got to take care of your roots, Mr. Georgiou. Don’t forget to nourish them!” She waved her arms around dramatically, nearly hitting her coffee mug off the desk. “Right,” he said, already halfway out the door. “Nourish my roots. Uh, see you later, Eleni. Keep blooming.” As the door clicked shut behind him, Eleni let out a contented sigh, sinking back into her chair and gazing out the window, feeling like the most enlightened person in the entire office. For the rest of the afternoon, Eleni was on a roll. She spread joy and sunshine wherever she went, offering flowers (well, paper ones) to her colleagues and even trying to “pollinate” the office plants with a small sprits of water from her bottle. She even took to humming her favourite songs aloud, with the occasional interpretive dance thrown in for good measure. Blooming Madness At 5 p.m., as the office emptied out and her co- workers trickled out the door, Eleni remained, basking in the fading glow of the office lights. She was the last one there, perfectly content in her new identity. As she packed up her things, Maria stood in the doorway, staring at her like a bewildered deer caught in headlights. “So, is this... your thing now? Are you going full flower ?” Maria asked, eyebrow raised in concern. Eleni looked up, grinning. “Absolutely. And tomorrow, I’m going to try photosynthesizing in the bathroom. There’s a window there, after all.” Maria shook her head, chuckling despite herself. “Alright, Eleni. Just promise me one thing.” Eleni tilted her head, waiting for the wise words that Maria was surely about to impart. “Next time,” Maria said, “maybe... don’t bring the bees in for a meeting, okay?” Eleni laughed, winking. “No promises, Maria. I am a flower, after all.” Martha Radcliffe III. By Friday, Eleni’s flower transformation had reached a level of sophistication that could only be described as audacious . The woman who had once struggled to stay awake during morning meetings now glided through the office like a spring breeze, radiating an energy that was equal parts absurd and endearing. Her flower persona was no longer just a quirky idea; it was her full-time reality. She’d taken it upon herself to create an outfit that would truly embody the beauty of nature. Her dress was a riot of floral prints, with oversized daisies and sunflowers covering every inch of fabric. The dress had fluttery sleeves that seemed to be in constant motion, as if the very air was coaxing them into life. Her hair was adorned with green leaves, interwoven like a crown, and her feet were encased in a pair of flip-flops that featured, what else, daisies blooming at the toes.