Return to Cozy Island

As shown in The Soul, I strive to build my life around the concepts of perseverance and waiting. I try constantly; sometimes I succeed, but other times I fail, feeling overwhelmed and defeated. The story I am about to tell you is one of those times.

I don’t remember when, and I don’t remember why. I only remember Frolla and Riccia, my two kittens, playing wildly, bumping into the trailing stem of the Philodendron Silver Sword that hangs in the hallway, above the bookshelf. The leaves had settled on the floor, suddenly deprived of their sap—the very source of their life. Green and brilliant, they shimmered in the sunlight filtering through the window.

I decided to pick up the branch and throw it away, into the trash, but I was intercepted by my partner, who stopped me. He took the small stem from my hand and turned it into a cutting, placing it in a small glass bulb filled with water.

His choice was a wonderful one. A few months later, the stem has put forth its first two roots. Today, we gazed at it together. Once again, plants have taught me that something can always rise from destruction, while he reminded me to never give up.

We have decided to cut the stem further, so that three new plants may be born. Unlike their mother, they will likely spend the rest of their days in hydroponic culture, but I will do everything I can to make their scarred leaves shine once more and to honor the lesson of resilience I received today.

This is them today: they haven’t developed any new leaves yet, but the nodes have healthy roots. I trust in time; with the arrival of spring, we will likely see some new leaves begin to grow as well.