Years ago..

Years ago I was at a florist buying roses for a loved one, I hand picked 20 of the largest, fullest, most striking red roses and asked the man to wrap them. To my horror he held up a knife and began to shave off the thorns! I was so upset and yelled at him to stop at once, he was puzzled by my reaction but stopped nonetheless and wrapped the roses. I paid and left quickly, cradling the roses so passionately, so protectively to my breast, feeling the pricking sensation of their aggressive needles, I held them the way one would hold their own life, in pain and awe.