The Flower That Never Died
She was very popular of a sort.
Everyone knew the black girl in the class.
The queen of the night,
The one with the black heart,
The only one who didn’t have a single drop of white.
No one really knew her.
And she wasn't ready to change them.
So she decided to make them right.
She became the black mean girl
When she really wanted to be the sunshine.
She locked up her heart,
She built up her walls,
She pushed them all away.
Whenever she felt her colorful flowers trying to surface,
She slit her wrists and screamed in pain.
All she ever wanted was to be loved,
To be accepted,
To be the pretty nice girl her heart wanted.
The sweet flowers that once filled the garden in her heart
Were slowly getting withered, old and dead.
The thoughts of death she once dreaded
Now seemed appealing.
If she could just end this journey
Everyone would be happy.
But would she be happy?
That dreaded morning came
But the last flower in her heart was standing strong.
It kept blooming. Never dying.
It tugged her and pulled her away from her thoughts
Until she looked up and saw a coffee shop.
"I might as well have a cup of coffee before I leave"
She watched him smile when she got to the counter.
She didn’t return the smile.
"I’ll have a-",
He quickly cut her "I’ll give you what you need"
She was leaving soon anyways.
There was no reason to fight back.
He poured some black coffee in a mug
"Taste it.", he said
"Of course it’s bitter like me. Milk makes everything better."
"Just taste it."
She was prepared to taste the bitter drink she expected,
But a sweet taste filled her tastebuds.
Her facial muscles softened.
Then he gave her a cup of coffee with milk
Just like she wanted.
"Now taste this".
The bitter liquid surprised her and she quickly spat it out.
"What are you try to do?" She asked.
"I’ve watched you since we were children."
"I watched your sunshine dim and grow dark"
She hissed, "you don’t know me".
"Maybe I don't, But what I'd like you to know is this,
The milk doesn't make the coffee better or sweeter,
The sugar does."
"You don't need to be mixed race or light skinned to be beautiful.
Your sugar, spice and sunshine is your beauty."
At that, she felt a tug in her heart.
She felt warmth,
She felt the love she desired.
His words killed all her suicidal thoughts
And she smiled for the first time in 15 years.
"I’m glad you showed up today" He said.
Speechlessly, she slowly walked out of the coffee shop.
After a few steps she remembered something.
"I didn’t even thank him".
When she turned back, the coffee shop was gone.
Then she heard a voice in her head.
"I'm the flower that never died.
You don't need to thank me,
I'll always be with you, guiding you.
You'll be alright".
