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I let the breeze brush through my hair and close my remaining eyes, welcoming the gentle contact given.
I'm settled in a little garden filled with Hell's version of Poppies, Gladiolis, and Orchids, all flowers a sort of Remembrance.
'Orchids are graceful flowers that symbolize the words, “I love you.”' Or so Charlie said as she came up with the idea about a memorial place for my Family.
I recall her explaining the flowers she chose, thinking about whom they stood for.
'White orchids convey elegance, innocence, and purity.'
My Family was innocent beyond a doubt. Mob or not!
'Gladioli, known for strength of character, the tall, bold blooms symbolize integrity, sincerity, and faithfulness.'
Faithful to their Don my Family was, sincerity to a T no shadow of a doubt!
I open my eyes and watch a few Poppies sway before me and smile slowly, four eyes lidded as it grows upon my face.
Simply put, Poppies were for remembrance, something I would never have trouble doing but given this remembrance garden was made for a Crime Family by the Princess herself to do so too?
I feel light inside, my foggy mind clearing off the thoughts that plagued it most of the night before.
There IS one flower out of this whole garden that stuck out however~
The flower of Hope and Resilience~
My Piccolo Fiore~
Daisy~
I'm brought back from the past, away from the flowers of Remembrance and whom they stood for and instead return to the present, return to looking down upon the little flower hugging me and squealing in my arms.
Her snout nuzzles under my chin, her hood flared wide, everything bright about her, the little Daisy of Hope and Resilience that stood out in this garden of silent Remembrance~
Our living Hope for a new better life, our living Resilience in gaining that life, right here, pawing at my beaming scarred face.
Daddy watched atop the hill close to the Hotel, beaming happily at the sight before his eyes watching as I begin to laugh and play with our Fiore~
He joins us in the garden not long after and together we lift our Hope into the air, and share in this moment that Resilience got us to~
We'd remember, we would always remember!
But now, we had Hope in that garden, and with it, came the starting of something brand new, something beautiful, something worth living for after all~