i did not know,
that loving her would be
unravelling
the bubble wrap from the
thorns she held within

pulling the insubstantial strands of
spiderweb silk apart
to discover the crimson that
did not come from her
but from the storms that lashed her
into
into a million pieces.

i did not know
falling for her was akin to being
impaled on her vicious
thorns

but also
being folded into her
embrace
velvety smooth against
my skin
her head resting on my shoulder
her arms tight around my waist

i did not know
that within that exquisite exterior -
for she was so perfect to me -
hid a darker side
which she had never
dared to
reveal

i did not believe
that this fragile flower was
far more tenuous
than anyone had seen her before

that she had faced entire
hurricanes
made of ice and flint
winds that had scorned her
with bitter frost
and mocking glimpses of relief
thunderstorms

alone.

and when i pulled away from her
retreating
retreating back into
the warmth of the sunshine that awaited me
that when i was soaking up the healing balm of the
sun

i did not know
that she would pull her petals shut
that she would fall apart so heartwrenchingly
that the mystical colour which i loved so
so dearly about her
would
drain
from

my rose.