Rose

Sunshine. Gorgeous, heart-warming sunshine. The heat made softer by the cool post-winter breeze stroking her cheeks. Light twinkled before her eyes, bouncing off the shards of glass sprinkled on the asphalt. "This is beautiful," she told herself, watching the rainbow of colors dancing before her.

But why am I so sad?

"Just one foot in front of the other."

The traffic hummed along as background noise while her thoughts flicked through all the emotions she wanted to feel. Such a quiet weight this sadness. Kind of creeps up while she's unawares, and it's so hard for her to put her finger on why it came.

Maybe sadness isn't quite the right name for it, maybe I'm confused?

"Step one, step two, step three..."

But I don't want confused either. What am I confused about?

The splash of green catches her eye; such a fresh and lush color. Memories push the confusion aside; lazy spring days lying in the park, picking flowers, wandering the English countryside.

Whatever this feeling is, it's not mine.

"One foot..."

And then as quickly as it arrives, it disappears. What's this? Red.

She looks down. A single garden rose lies on the pavement, cut only moments ago... a forgotten gift, perhaps. Or maybe it was left on purpose? This succulent, romantic and velvety red. God, and the smell is intoxicating.

"This is beautiful," she says to herself with a smile.

She keeps walking, face turned to the sun, heart lighter and the rose clutched in her hand.