And Poppy WanderedUpdated at Apr 8, 2025, 11:17
This is the true story of Poppy. Called "the girl from the Exorcist" by her alcoholic and narcissistic mother since childhood, words Poppy never understood until adulthood, it was only years later that some of her characteristics were confirmed when she walked into work to be abruptly confronted by her manager.
"Were you just in here about twenty minutes ago?"
"No."
"I just saw you with your uniform on and your pink back-pack walk across the floor from the main door and walk up the stairs, I thought you were just early for work."
"No, I've been outside the main bus station with a friend sitting in the sun and about five minutes ago I walked up the road here."
"Well I definitely saw you and when you didn't come down from upstairs (rooms used for meetings only) I followed you up there and you weren't there! But I definitely saw you I saw you come in and walk up the stairs."
Poppy said nothing and her heart panged a little.
In reality Poppy had been with a friend sat on a brick wall outside the bus station and remembered briefly but emotionally contemplating work and not wanting to come in.
Historically Poppy had been accused of being in or at places she had not been, had been seen by people she knew on holidays she had not been on, and this interaction was the first time in her life that confirmed nothing could be blamed on a doppelganger, how she could physically and often unconsciously move outside of her body.
This exposure to her work colleagues, like everyone who got close to her unveiled, things with Poppy were different. But different causes fear and fear causes anger - something Poppy had learned since childhood. Humans don't like different.
I'd like to tell you about Poppy.