25.11: The Intersection of Odd Numbers

ai interior of Brigid's flower shop; pictures on the wall, large window overlooking the street with people, desk with papers and florist tools, table in the corner with a chair

The Glyph of Rainmoth Fold

The Unbound Heart

The bell above the door startled itself into song as a woman stepped inside, trailing the scent of wet wool and old rain, her umbrella dripping quietly onto the floor, the air folded small around her shoulders like it didn’t want to be noticed.

Brigid set down a bunch of white tulips and stood from her workbench, sensing that soft shift …the weight of a heart about to speak when it shouldn’t have waited so long.

“I heard you make flowers say things,” the woman said; Brigid nodded toward the corner table, “Sort of, sometimes it’s a message, sometimes something else — please, tell me what needs saying.”

The story spilled like cut stems across the counter: angry words meant to wound, love tied too tight, silence where apology should’ve lived, “I wanted him to hurt, and now it’s me who’s bleeding.”

Brigid let her hands move while she listened: fern for what held, primrose for what could begin, red cyclamen for pain spoken aloud, sage to hold it all together, and baby’s breath to make the grief a little easier to carry …and as she worked, the air shifted, like the petals themselves remembered how to breathe.

She tied the bouquet once with ashen-rose twine, light but firm, and slipped on a small tag marked with a symbol shaped like rising smoke, and when the bell gave a soft, answering chime, Brigid said, “This one’s not for him — it’s for you: forgive yourself first.”

Versnaeyen, Gabriel Saban, Philippe Briand (The Path of Silence)

Previous Instalments – To access all of the instalments on one page, please use this link

Written for Denise’s Six Sentence Story including the word ‘tag’  Some artwork is created using Midjourney AI. Imagery and poems/prose ©Misky 2006-2025.

22 responses to “25.11: The Intersection of Odd Numbers”

  1. A Victorian art brought to life in the 21st century.
    Excellent, Brigid … Brava, Marilyn.

    [ your soundtrack is one of my most played by Anne – she has also been the inspiration ( due to a violin playing technique) behind the first Untimely Utterances, Bariolage]

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I pursued floriography on my own, in ways that felt useful to me rather than learning the binomial nomenclature names for plants (or botanical names). Floriography is a highly meticulous game; the recipient having to research each element of the bouquet of unravel the meaning the ‘gifter’ intended to say. One plant might suggest something positive but when paired with another could turn the meaning to negative.

      Would you like to know something interesting about it?

      Thank you!

      Floriography was widely used from the Crimean War straight through to WWII. Not for official military codes, obviously, but for informal and underground communication. It was the perfect spy tool because it left no trace; no written record, and the code could be changed daily. For instance:

      A poppy on the counter meant “Enemy patrol nearby.”
      A blue cornflower pinned to a child’s coat meant “Follow me”
      A daisy chain on a garden gate meant “Escape route open tonight.”

      As for the music, this song is on nearly every playlist I’ve created for when my mind needs to ‘unpin’ itself.

      Liked by 2 people

  2. I love the way Brigid interpreted her need. Perfect.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. What a complex and yet simple way to communicate. Brigid has found a beautiful way to bring it back.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Mimi. We still do it without realising: a yellow rose or ribbon, a red rose …

      Like

  4. Ah, beautifully done… the words flow out, like a chorus in the background.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Oh so beautiful 😍 Loved the story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you! 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Nice dialog which seems to explain much: “I wanted him to hurt, and now it’s me who’s bleeding.” Good advice about forgiveness.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much, Frank.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. I love everything about this post Misky, the continuation of the story and the music❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so very much!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. In a word Misky, beautiful. In another… an exquisite expression of life’s poetry.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. (big smile) I am so very glad that you enjoyed it. Thank you, Denise.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Damn!*

    *a compliment<sup>1</sup> insufficient in and among those already expressed**

    1)did the html actually work?!?! cool

    **for me the beauty part of this form of blogging lies as much in the comments as the content… excellent stories and heartfelt if not insightful critiques<sup>2</sup>

    2)like there’s confidence, (way to double down on the cleverity) …anyway my first response to this excellent installment was to invoke a painting style (with delicate details) that said, upon reflection I went to more…impressionistic (but not ‘The Scream’ or ‘Christina’s World’) lol***

    ***some talented artist surely has done a mash-up of those two, right?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m delighted that you had fun with this one, Clark. I was equally fun to write. Thank you!

      Like

  10. Invoking everyday, real magic. Often the greatest healing comes with those who really listen, really see.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aye. The magic of listening. Thanks, Liz.

      Liked by 1 person

Your comments are always welcome