Innocence

1.🌹Delicate Roses🌹

12 years ago

My grandmother grasped my hand as we walked off her miniature porch. With her free hand, she stooped down and picked up her watering can. Even though we were traveling a short distance, she insisted on holding my hand. Once we made it to her garden, she released her grip and watered her plants. The flower plot swarmed with insect wildlife, dragon flies, monarchs, bumblebees, and even the infamous wasps.

I swatted a gnat away, crinkling my nose, "There's no need to get so upset, Nene." She joked.

I rubbed my legs and sat on the grass, "Granny, what's that red?" I pointed at her tallest plant.

"Ah, I see you've got an eye for the roses." She carefully broke off a stem and showed it to me, I tried grabbing it, but she snatched the rose away. "Uh-uh." She wagged her finger. "Be careful now, them thorns will cut you." I nodded my head and took the rose slowly.

I stood up and followed her as she walked through the yard, "You're like a rose Nene..."

I shook my head, "I'm not a rose granny, I'm Moani." She chuckled and patted my head.

"But you are..." She knelt and took the rose from my hands. "You see how beautiful this rose is?" She held it to the sun as I nodded. The rose was such a vibrant red, it could even outshine the sun. "Beautiful just like you, it even has thorns to protect its self from bad things." She handed me the rose. "Just like you protected yourself from that bug, a rose will prick you when it's bothered."

I cheesed, "Can Zelda be a Rose too?" She ran her hand down my plait.

"Yes, deary, everyone is a Rose in spirit, but some don't get enough water, so they wilt." She showed me a dry, wilting Lilly.

"I drink a lot of water granny! I'll never wilt!"

She smiled, "Don't let anyone take your water away, you need it to survive." She poured water on the Lilly. "I ask that you lead other wilting Roses to water, it's not nice to let others suffer."

I titled my head, not understanding her...

13 years later

Anonymous

He paced the room in a circle and slowly turned to me, "Bro you ain't shit to me. Fuck you!" he spat.

I stood in front of him 6 weeks pregnant, dumbfounded, "Wh... What you mean?"  I stutter with watering eyes. "You just mad, you don't mean that." I shook my head.

He grabbed my chin and leaned in about to kiss me, but hustled my face away, "When have I lied to you?" I batted my eyes and stared at him, blankly. "Exactly I never lied to yo ass, I always tell you wassup."

A tear slipped from my eye, "What you tryin' say?"

"You was never my gal..."

He played me like a toy and I let him.