Petals of Eternity

The Love of a Torn Flower

They danced.
Garlands of flowers lay atop their glowing crowns of hair.

They sang.
Their melodious voices drifting through the branches of the trees, causing even the birds to fall silent.

Their laughter tinkled like streams, bubbling up within them, and bursting forth when it could be contained no longer.

If you looked at them you would see the nymphs of the forest, beautiful, innocent, loving.

But have you looked beyond that?
Have you seen the pain, the broken hearts, the wounds that have never healed?

See that one there?
The one with the dark, soft skin? With the voice of pure silver?
A man took advantage of that beauty, and scarred her forever.
She believed herself to be hideous, and unworthy of love.

"How could she?" you say. "She seems so flawless."

She never saw it.
Everyone told her contrary.

Look at the blonde.
The one whose laugh echoes above the others.

Her family died when she was seven.
She lived in an orphanage for the rest of her childhood, never belonging, always mourning for the life she never had.

"How can she laugh so joyfully now?" you ask.

Now look, over there.
The girl whose hair glows like fire.
Her heart was shattered and never mended.
She always felt alone, and a burden to others.
She was in constant pain, both physical and emotional.
Screaming, crying for relief.

See how she dances, like all her cares are gone.
How could she smile when she is so broken?

You are confused.

Would you like me to tell you?

Why the dark girl sings? Why the blonde laughs? How the redhead can dance?

They channeled their pain, their emotion, into love. They knew how it felt to be torn apart inside, and they used that knowledge to heal others. They vowed, never again, while they could help it, would someone feel ugly, unloved, shattered.
Never again.

And so they gave everything they had, their blood, their sweat, their very selves into healing others. They took all the pain upon themselves, never wishing another to carry the burden. They loved, because when they were in the darkest pits of despair, they had needed that love.

And now they laugh.
They sing.
They dance.
Because even though they have been up late into the endless nights, screaming soundlessly for help, they have released others from that pain.

They have loved.
And now they have received that love back.

Love in a girl's joyful smile as she received a compliment. Love in the look of peace and happiness in a child's gaze as they hugged their parents. Love in the wholeness of another's heart.

Even as they have been broken, they have healed others.
And that gives them a reason to smile and laugh, to sing and dance. It fills them with peace and hope.

So next time you see a silent tear on someone's face, wipe it away. Next time you see someone hurting, go to them.
You see someone alone? Be there for them.
You see someone looking at the ground in shame? Compliment them.
You see someone who seems a little off? Ask them if they're okay, and then make sure they aren't lying.

You might save a heart.
Or a life.

Sometimes you don't need to be broken to become a maiden.

You just have to love.