They admire my petals, soft as whispers, kissed by the sun. They reach for me, drawn by my fragrance, intoxicated by my hue. But they forgetโ beauty does not come without pain.
My thorns stand guard, etched in the flesh of those who hold me carelessly, who pluck without thought, who love without knowing that love has a cost.
I did not choose themโthese thorns. They grew with me, woven into my being, etched in my spine, a silent testament that even beauty must learn how to defend itself.
Yet, even I wonderโ Am I the flower, or am I the thorns? Am I the softness, or the strength? Perhaps I am both. Perhaps I must be.
For the world is not kind to the unguarded. And though I ache to be held without harm, I knowโ without my thorns, I would not survive.
While writing this poem I have used Free Verse style.
Explanation: Free verse allows for an organic and emotional flow, mirroring the unpredictability of lifeโs struggles. Without a rigid rhyme scheme or meter, it captures the raw emotions of pain, resilience, and self-discovery. Just like thorns on a rose, lifeโs challenges do not follow a structured patternโthey emerge naturally, shaping us in unexpected ways. This form gives the poem a conversational yet deeply introspective feel, making it more relatable and impactful for readers.
Questions for you
๐น Have you ever felt like your struggles were a part of you, just like the thorns on a rose? How did they shape you?
๐ฟ Do you think thorns are a sign of strength or a reminder of pain? Or perhaps both?
๐ If beauty comes with struggle, what do you think is the “thorn” in your own journey? How has it helped you grow?
โจ Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Your reflections and experiences matter.
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Novel : Tides of Destiny , Written by : Zoeb Ali (Zee)
Pre-Cap: Where We Left Off
In Chapter 17, Aileen stood on the stormy cliffside, gripping the mysterious artifact as the waves crashed violently below. Betrayal had come from within, and the truth about the journal and its cryptic symbols was finally unraveling. Just when she thought she was alone, a shadowy figure emerged from the darknessโsomeone she once trusted. Was this the moment of reckoning, or was there still a way out?
Chapter 18: Shadows of the Past
The wind howled through the night, carrying whispers of the past that refused to be buried. Aileen’s fingers trembled around the artifact, its eerie glow illuminating the face of the figure before her. It was him. The one she never expected.
“You,” she whispered, voice barely audible over the storm.
The figure stepped closer, his expression unreadable. “You should have left it alone, Aileen.”
She took a step back, her boots skidding against the wet rock. The weight of the journal in her satchel pressed against her sideโa reminder of the secrets it held, secrets she wasnโt supposed to uncover.
“Why?” Her voice was stronger now, laced with the sting of betrayal. “After everything, why deceive me?”
The answer came not in words but in motion. A sudden rushโa flash of steel. Aileen barely had time to react, ducking as the blade sliced through the space where she had stood. She stumbled backward, her heartbeat a frantic drum against her ribs.
“Hand it over, and this ends now,” he demanded, his voice dangerously calm.
But Aileen wasnโt ready to surrender. Not now. Not after coming this far.
Summoning every ounce of courage, she spun on her heel and bolted toward the only path leftโthe ruins. The crumbling remains of the ancient chapel loomed ahead, a ghostly silhouette against the storm-lit sky.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of damp stone and forgotten history. She pressed herself against a broken pillar, clutching the artifact tightly. Her pursuerโs footsteps echoed in the vast emptiness.
“You canโt hide forever,” he taunted. “You think youโre the first to try?”
Aileenโs breath came fast and shallow. Think, think. She glanced at the altarโthe place where Eleanorโs journal had hinted something was buried. Could this be it? The final piece of the puzzle?
She reached out, her fingers tracing the worn carvings. A shift in the air, a soft click beneath her fingertips. And thenโa sudden tremor. The ground beneath her quaked, dust cascading from the ceiling. A secret passage? A trap?
She had no time to hesitate. She leapt forward just as the floor gave way behind her, swallowing the past and the present in one terrifying collapse.
Post-Cap: Whatโs Next?
As Aileen plunges into the darkness below, what awaits her? Has she stumbled upon the final key to Eleanorโs secrets, or has she fallen into an even deadlier trap? And what will happen to the one who betrayed her?
Now, Iโd love to hear from you! How do you think Aileen should proceed? Should she trust an unlikely ally in the depths below, or is she truly on her own? Drop your thoughts in the comments! If I choose your suggestion, Iโll @mention you in the next chapter with a message of your choice!
Imagine youโre walking through a forest. The sun filters through the trees, a gentle breeze rustles the leaves, and birds sing their morning songs. But instead of noticing this beauty, your mind is elsewhere. Youโre replaying a mistake from years ago, or maybe youโre stressing about a future that hasnโt even happened yet.
๐น Sound familiar?
Buddhaโs words echo through time:
๐ โDo not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.โ
At first glance, this quote seems simple. But how often do we truly live by it?
Why the Present Matters
The past is a teacher, but itโs not a place to live. The future holds possibilities, but worrying wonโt shape it. True peace, joy, and clarity exist only in the present moment.
๐ In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna reminds Arjuna: “Perform your duty without attachment to the results.” Meaning? Focus on what you can do right now rather than getting lost in regret or anxiety.
๐ Jesus, too, spoke of this wisdom: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34) Faith, whether spiritual or personal, is built on trust in the present.
The Illusion of Control
Think about itโhow many times has overthinking stolen your joy? How often have you missed lifeโs little moments because your mind was stuck elsewhere?
๐น Pause for a moment. Breathe. Feel this exact moment.
What do you notice? The warmth of your surroundings? The rhythm of your breath? The simple peace of just being?
A Challenge for You
๐ฌ Whatโs one thing you can do today to be fully present? Share in the comments! โค๏ธ If this resonated with you, give it a like. Letโs spread the message of mindfulness together.
The past has passed. The future is unknown. But right now? This is where life happens. ๐ฟโจ
Have you ever held a rose in your hand? At first glance, it seems delicate, its petals soft as velvet, its fragrance intoxicating. But as your fingers trace its stem, you suddenly feel a sharp stingโa thorn hidden beneath its beauty. In that moment, you realize something profound: a rose is not just defined by its petals but by the strength of its thorns.
Now, pause for a moment and thinkโarenโt we just like roses in many ways?
The Duality of Beauty and Strength
Society often glorifies beauty, success, and ease, much like the petals of a rose. But what about the struggles, the pain, and the resilience that make those moments possible? The truth is, beauty alone does not define a person. It is the strength they gain through hardshipsโtheir thornsโthat shape their character and story.
Think about a time in your life when you faced difficulty. Maybe it was heartbreak, loss, failure, or self-doubt. In those moments, you might have felt broken. But wasnโt it also in those moments that you discovered your resilience? Just as a rose’s thorns protect it from harm, our struggles equip us with the strength to withstand lifeโs challenges.
Embracing the Thorns in Our Lives
We often wish for an easy path, a life without struggles, but have you ever considered that the very challenges you face are what make you stronger? A rose without thorns may seem appealing, but without them, it is vulnerableโeasily plucked, easily destroyed.
Heartbreak teaches us the value of love and self-worth.
Failure carves the path to growth and resilience.
Pain reminds us that we are alive, feeling, and evolving.
Challenges shape us into warriors, not just dreamers.
A Question for You
Now, letโs reflect. If you could go back and erase every struggle, every thorn from your journey, would you? Or would you embrace them, knowing that they played a role in making you who you are today?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below! Letโs share our stories of strength and growth, and inspire each other to see the beauty in our own thorns.
Share This & Spread the Message
If this blog resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear this today. Letโs remind the world that true beauty isnโt just in how we shine but in how we endure. Like a rose, may we all bloom with grace and stand tall with strength. ๐นโจ
Have you ever watched a rose bloom? Not just glanced at one in passing but truly observed it? From a tightly wrapped bud to its grand unfurling, every petal opens in its own time, untouched by haste or impatience. No force can rush its bloom, yet when it finally blossoms, it is breathtaking in its perfection.
What if I told you that your journey in life is no different?
The Beauty of Patience in Growth
We live in a world that glorifies speed. Fast results, instant success, quick transformationsโeverything is expected to happen overnight. But nature teaches us a different lesson. A rose does not rush to bloom. It takes its time, absorbing the sunlight, drinking in the rain, strengthening its stem, and deepening its roots. Only when it is truly ready does it open up to the world in all its glory.
Now, take a moment to reflectโare you rushing your own growth? Are you comparing your timeline with others, feeling frustrated when things donโt happen as quickly as youโd like?
Your Journey, Your Timing
Think about the most meaningful achievements in your life. Did they happen instantly, or did they take time, effort, and patience? Perhaps you struggled through challenges, moments of doubt, or even failure before you finally reached your goal. And when you did, didnโt it feel worth the wait?
Life is a series of seasons. Some days, you may feel like a closed bud, hidden and unsure, waiting for your moment. Other times, you may feel like you are bloomingโradiating confidence, success, and fulfillment. Both seasons are equally important. Just because you are not in full bloom today does not mean you are not growing.
The Dangers of Forcing the Bloom
Imagine if you tried to peel open the petals of a rose before it was ready. You would damage its delicate structure, ruining what could have been a beautiful bloom. In the same way, forcing yourself into something youโre not ready forโbe it a relationship, a career move, or even personal healingโcan do more harm than good.
Success, love, healing, and personal growth all have their own rhythm. Trust it. Just because someone else has bloomed before you doesnโt mean your time wonโt come. The sun shines on every flower, and your turn will arrive.
What Can We Learn from the Rose?
Patience leads to beauty. Growth is a slow process, but the results are worth the wait.
Struggles are part of the journey. Thorns donโt make a rose any less beautiful; they make it resilient.
Comparison is the thief of joy. Every flower blooms at its own timeโwhy rush yours?
Embrace the process. Instead of wishing for the bloom, enjoy the journey of getting there.
Your Turn: Share Your Story
Can you think of a time when patience led to something beautiful in your life? Maybe a job opportunity that came at the perfect moment, a relationship that flourished with time, or personal growth that only happened after you let go of control?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below! Letโs inspire each other with stories of patience, perseverance, and perfect timing. ๐น
Like, Share & Download a Special Reminder
If this blog resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear this today. And as a little gift, Iโve created a beautiful rose-themed video screensaver/wallpaper to remind you that your bloom will come at the right time. Click [here] to download it and let it be a daily affirmation that your journey is unfolding exactly as it should.
Letโs trust the timing of our livesโjust like the rose. ๐ฟโจ
Recap of Chapter 16 The tremors grew louder, and Aileen barely escaped the collapsing underground chamber with the ancient artifact in her hands. The betrayal by Marcus cut deeper than any blade, leaving Aileen reeling from shock as she pieced together his deception. As the group scattered to safety, the artifactโs strange glow pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat, almost as if it were alive. Outside, a storm brewed, mirroring the chaos within her.
Chapter 17 The howling wind lashed at Aileenโs face as she stood on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the restless ocean. Lightning danced across the darkened sky, illuminating the jagged rocks below. She clutched the artifact tightly, its smooth surface warm against her palm. Despite the storm’s fury, the glow from the artifact remained steady, a beacon in the tempest.
โThis canโt all be for nothing,โ she muttered to herself, the weight of her journey pressing heavily on her shoulders. โIf Marcus thinks heโs won, he has no idea who heโs dealing with.โ
Behind her, Evelyn and Kael approached cautiously, their faces etched with concern. Evelyn placed a reassuring hand on Aileenโs shoulder. โWeโve lost Marcus, but we havenโt lost the fight. That artifactโฆ itโs the key to everything. We just need to figure out how to use it.โ
Kael, ever the realist, leaned against a weathered tree. โIf Marcus was willing to betray us, who else might be working against us? This isnโt just about trust anymoreโitโs about survival.โ
As they spoke, a sudden crack of thunder split the air, and Aileen felt the artifact grow warmer. She looked down to see faint symbols appearing on its surface, glowing faintly in time with her heartbeat. Her breath hitched. โItโsโฆ itโs reacting to something.โ
Evelyn leaned in closer. โCould it be the storm? Or maybe itโs connected to the ruins?โ
Kael frowned. โOr itโs a warning. We should move before Marcus catches up to us.โ
But Aileen was transfixed. The symbols on the artifact shifted and rearranged themselves, forming a pattern that seemed almost familiar. โWait,โ she said, her voice trembling with excitement. โIโve seen this beforeโin Eleanorโs journal. Itโs a map.โ
The revelation sent a jolt of energy through the group. They hurried back to their makeshift camp, where Aileen spread the journal open on a flat rock. By the flickering light of the fire, she matched the symbols on the artifact to the ancient sketches in the journal. Her fingers traced the lines, her mind racing.
โItโs pointing to another location,โ she said, her eyes alight with determination. โThis wasnโt the final destinationโitโs just the beginning.โ
Evelynโs brow furrowed. โBut if Marcus knows about this, heโll be one step ahead of us.โ
โThen we need to move faster,โ Aileen replied. She looked at her companions, her voice steady despite the storm raging around them. โThis is our chance to set things right. If we donโt, everything weโve fought for will be lost.โ
Kael nodded, his earlier doubts replaced by resolve. โLetโs pack up. We leave at first light.โ
As the group prepared for their next journey, Aileen couldnโt shake the feeling that the artifact was watching her. Its glow had dimmed, but she could still feel its presence, like a heartbeat syncing with her own. What secrets did it hold? And why did it feel like the deeper they ventured, the more questions they uncovered?
Post-cap and Tease for Chapter 18 As dawn broke, the storm subsided, leaving behind a sky painted in hues of gold and crimson. The group set out, their hearts heavy with the weight of their mission but buoyed by the hope of uncovering the truth. Yet, unknown to them, shadows moved in the distanceโMarcus wasnโt far behind. And he wasnโt alone.
What awaits them at the next location? Will the artifact reveal more of its secrets, or will its mysteries only deepen? And can Aileen trust her companions, or will betrayal strike again when they least expect it?
Interactive Questions for Readers
What do you think the artifactโs ultimate purpose might be?
Should the group encounter a new ally or an unexpected enemy at the next location?
How do you feel about Marcusโs betrayalโshould Aileen confront him sooner, or should the tension build for a climactic showdown?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments! If I choose one of your suggestions to shape the story, Iโll @ mention your name and include any message youโd like to share. Letโs craft this thrilling journey together!
