Unwilted- A Moment that Changed Me

Unwilted- A Moment that Changed Me

                       – By Vasudha Malik

 Outside the city skyline blurred into streaks of light, but inside the car, I sat anchored in my gloom. Exiting the car, I dragged my heels across the pavement, each step mirroring the storm brewing behind my furrowed brows.

 “Hi”, my mother said. “Hi”, I mumbled. Moments later, my mother tapped on my bedroom door. I forced an unconvincing smile. “I’m ok, Mom,” I said, my voice betraying the tension in my stiff shoulders.

 I sat huddled on the couch, movie scenes reflecting blankly in my unblinking eyes. My phone lilt up with notifications from my friends, but I could only type short, distracted replies.

 I looked away from the television, my voice cracking as I confessed why I was staring at the floor instead of the screen. Leaving a job I had poured my heart into for years- only to be passed over for a more routine opportunity- felt like an agonizing mystery I couldn’t solve. I couldn’t stop the thoughts from racing through my head: Was it simply bad luck? Did my stars align against me?

 My gaze drifted to the balcony. A vibrant, emerald Selaginella lepidophylla bloomed. A month ago, it was a withered brown fist. Now, thriving in the heat, it was a silent revelation. I smiled. Like the Resurrection plant, true strength wasn’t waiting for the storm to pass-it was blooming right through it. I cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but I can change myself.

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