She could not see the flowers

as an act of kindness,

as a thank you for sharing

some of her time with me

 

The expensive bouquet

was still there on the counter

Monday morning when she left

 

The roses, azaleas, and carnations,

even the inanimate vase,

seemed saddened and troubled

at having been seen as an apology

for a crime where no charges

had yet been leveled

 

I could only imagine the wounds

someone had inflicted on her,

and wonder if I had enough bandages

to apply a fresh compress

to her distrust of flowers

 

As it turned out, I did not