Her name was Marigold

It was the perfect spring day. The kind where you don't feel hot or cold; you almost feel nothing at all.

I was grabbing a coffee at the corner cafe, taking a break from a meeting-filled day. I ordered my usual black coffee, with just enough room so my clumsy self wouldn't spill as I walked to grab a lid. However, this day, I outdid myself and spilled every step of the way.

I popped my lid on and grabbed napkins to clean up my mess. But as I turned around to face my crime, I found a woman with hair as dark as my coffee, already cleaning up my spills.

"Oh, please, that was all me. I can take care of the rest!" I said it unusually loud and almost startled myself.

But as the woman stood up, I fell completely silent. She was beautiful.

"It's not a problem, I'm clumsy too." She said this with the most endearing smirk of a smile.

"Uh, hah, yes. Um, thank you." I was proud to get any words out.

"Sure thing!" She reached out her hand and so confidently said, "My name is Marigold, but my friends call me Mari."

"Nice to meet you, Mari. I'm Ben."

She smiled, and I feared she saw the twists and turns in my stomach through my eyes. I smiled back.

"Nice to meet you Ben - enjoy your coffee." Mari turned around and walked out the coffee shop doors.

I just stood there. I couldn't move.

Finally, as I whispered "Mari" to myself, I walked out the coffee shop doors too.

I frequented the coffee shop, day after day hoping to find Mari cleaning up my inevitable spills. She never came.

Months went by, and while the memory of her smile was fading away, I couldn't help but hope that every woman with hair as dark as my new coffee habit would be Marigold.

On a particularly brisk fall day, I was on my way to an intramural soccer game that I wasn't necessarily looking forward to. I signed up after some serious peer pressure from my favorite coworker, Sebastian. There's a reason he's in sales.

I parked next to Sebastian's vibrant, maybe bright red Audi. He already had his ice chest out and was drinking a Modelo. He loves Modelos.

As soon as I got out of my car, Sebastian was ready for me with an open beer.

"Salud, Ben!" "Salud, Seb."

It was time for our game against The Big Green.

I played soccer as a kid, but my career ended at the age of 11. So, as no surprise to me, I was a sub. I didn't mind that at all though, I enjoyed watching and drinking Seb's Modelos.

At halftime, one of my teammates wanted a break. I was going in.

Seb was giving me pointers on how to avoid getting tripped. He knew I was a clutz. I laughed him off, but was definitely listening to every last word.

As I started jogging to the other side of the field, I caught a whiff of coffee, or rather, the strong smell only a coffee shop could hold.

Immediately, memories of Marigold came rushing back to me. I shook them off.

The half went on and I was able to avoid tripping and even got in a decent pass. I was having a good time.

We lost 2-3, but I was on an endorphin high and went back to my team high-fiving away.

On my drive home, I had a strong craving for some coffee. I didn't care if it would hinder my sleep.

I stopped at the newly renovated coffee shop, just a few blocks from home. As I was walking up, I noticed a flowerbed filled with marigold flowers. I smiled to myself.

The coffee shop was beautiful, not for a moment shying away from using every color in the rainbow. Admiring the new layout and design, I wasn't paying attention when I walked up to the counter. I slammed right into the person in front of me.

"Oh, I'm so sorr.."

"Ben! Do you remember.."

"Mari." I interrupted.

As confidently as the moment she introduced herself, I smiled and said, "I'm still clumsy and your coffee is on me."