September 2, 2017

My dearest,

You love buying fresh stalks of pussy willow every Lunar New Year. They stay in their long cylindrical vase until a year has passed and it’s time to buy new stalks.

We never get around shelling every thorn-like bud. The stalks are a map of downy white buds and mocha-colored ones that are still covered.

It’s okay. We are never in a rush, and if we never get around to it, there is always another year. We’ll keep trying together.

Yours, ever and always.