By Mia Nieves Reyes
Picture taken on March 25, 2024. 7:33 pm.
A few days ago, I bought four potted marigold flowers at Home Depot. It was love at first sight, scarlet, bubblegum and golden spheres stood on the tips of tall stems. I had only ever seen flowers like these in romantic movie scenes and botanical books. I begged my father to buy them.
I gave one to my boyfriend’s mother, and another to his grandmother,I kept one on my father’s balcony, and the last one on my mothers terrace. Its buds were unopened and after a few days, the stems grew taller but the buds wouldn’t open. I felt guilty that out of all the flowers we had gotten, my mother, the person who deserves them the most, got the duds.
One rainy day, she told me to place them outside, facing the sun. If they didn’t bloom by then, they wouldn’t at all.
At night I stood in front of my backyard doors, talking exasperatedly on the phone. When I turned to check on the buds, they were in full bloom! Their neon orange color glowing in the darkness. I couldn’t stop my excitement. I stepped into the rain, kneeled down in front of the potted plant and snapped a picture.
The raindrops and bright petals reflected the flash in a way that it gave the picture a retro vibe. ’Til this day, It’s one of my favorite pictures saved on my phone. I hope it serves as a reminder that: At the right time, on the rainiest of nights, we all have potential to bloom.
