[Insert Story Title]

Flower

I always receive flowers everytime I perform. I'm not trying to brag though, I assure you. It's not like I'm the main character or anything. I have too little lines to be the main character, but enough to be a character at all. The flowers I receive? They're complimentary flowers. Flowers from the teachers to the entire cast, flowers from my parents, most importantly, flowers from my group of friends who have to buy me one or else they'll look bad only buying for their friends who they were there for since we were all in the same "clique". Those complimentary flowers.

Feels bad. But I get it. I mean, I do work hard, but I'm not impressive or anything. I have features where they should be, but I don't have sparkling eyes, or sharp cheekbones that girls swoon over. Maybe that was why Alex's flowers were always a little bit larger, more colourful. I was just mediocre.

The flowers on my desk mocked me. They were a constant reminder of my inabilities, the extent of my friendships with people. I thought what this flower could've meant to someone else and that it was wasted on me.

I sighed at my thoughts and smiled wearily at the purples and yellows. I had placed them, just three mere stalks, into a clear tall vase. They were turning brown, drooping from its heaviest point, yet beautiful all the while.

I wondered if Alex even cared about his stupid garden of roses after bringing them home. People who have too much see nothing at all. I wonder if he was staring at his flowers like I was, basking in the love and support of his fanclub. He probably throws them away.

That brings the question: Why flowers?

It represents affection and well wishes, but a chocolate bar can do the same.

It's funny really, if you think about it.

"Good job. By the way, here's something for you to place somewhere in the corner of your room and watch it slowly die of dehydration everyday until you forget about it!"

Really, you're happy when you get those beautiful flowers, but then it starts to wilt. You come home everyday to the stench of death lingering thicker around them.

Worst of all, is if they give you flowers that can actually survive, given to you in a nice pot of nutrient-packed bacterial soil and a typical brick red pot.

"Good job. By the way, here's some responsibility!"

I mean, hello, did I say I wanted to take care of flowers? Did you ask if I had the time, had the space, had the money, and more importantly care enough to take care of a goddamn plant?

People always ostracise others for buying pets as gifts, but how about flowers? They're really similar.

1. Both are being bought as gifts without consent (In fact, flowers are bought way too often as gifts. Can you imagine the entire audience holding onto a puppy for their actor friends after a show?).

2. Buying encourages inhumane breeding of both. This raises the question of plant versus animal rights, but no way in hell am I going to go into that topic. Not gonna raise hell against crazy vegan extremists.

3. Both are a pain to take care of. And ultimately die. I mean, I guess pets are more difficult to take care of, but you get what I mean.

I sighed again and rubbed my temples. My brain hurt from thinking so much. Especially right after a show, where I had to cram lines even five minutes before appearance. And I had a test tomorrow.

Why does everything in the world require memorization work? That's not fair. Surely we are more than what we can store in our heads?

I sighed yet again.

School is stupid. Theatre is stupid. Flowers are stupid.

- RHowzer

Hope everyone is enjoying!

Admin RHowzer signing off *tips hat*