Roses are Red
6
I laughed and found a vase, "I don't plan on using flowers as a garnish but if I ever do I'll be sure to keep them separate."
In the spring I helped you plant Annuals and replace the dead Perennials. You did the actual planting while I watered the new plants. It took us a couple weeks but when we were done two-thirds of your backyard was covered in green plants. As we surveyed our work I noticed a patch of dirt near the house.
I pointed at it, "What are we going to put there?"
You ran your hand through your hair, "Not sure, flowers I've tried in the past have had a hard time."
"What about roses? There's not a single rose in your garden."
You thought about it and agreed. I help you order the roses and you told me that you would prepare a special fertilizer to help them. I was curious but you just winked at me and said I'd have to wait until the roses arrived.
I enjoyed that time of sitting in your garden, feeling the sun on my skin watching you take care of the flowers. You fit in with the garden just like you had in Starbucks. The flowers seemed to shine for you and you would smile at them. The sunlight made you glow with life, sometimes out of the corner of my eye it seemed like you had a halo. In those moments you really looked like a fallen angel. I once asked you how you got the flowers to grow so well and you smiled at one of the daisies in front of you and said, "Because I talk to them."
That smile was different from the ones you gave to me, there was more of an edge to it, a darkness. I assumed it was bitterness and sorrow, so I left it alone. That smile is the only one I see now. Back then I thought you were smiling at the flowers, but you weren't were you. You were smiling at what was underneath.
The day the roses came it was warm and sunny. I drove over to your house as soon as I could. You laughed at my excitement and called me adorable. The truck was bigger than I expected as were the rose bushes. I watched as they were unloaded and you directed the workers where to leave the plants. I wanted to plant them right away but you said it would be easier after it had cooled off a little. We went inside and you made some tea your mother had given you. The last thing I remember is the tea tasted more bitter than I remembered.
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