One day my roommate Dani came in with a ficus named Felix, and my life would change subtly but permanently.
Turns out, this cute little plant was a gift from her boy friend. I put a space there because they were friends, and he was a boy, but he wasn't her boyfriend. It's significant because he wanted to be, and he gave her the plant when he asked her if he could take the space out.
As a symbol of her rejection, she decided to let the plant die by starvation. My other roommate Selena and I didn't know there was any meaning to the drooping plant on our kitchen table. We just saw a plant that needed love. And so we began watering him. He grew and grew and grew. Selena even bought Miracle Gro and put it in the pot. I think Dani was a little disappointed that the ficus kept growing despite her intentional negligence, but you know what? Life will find a way. Life always finds a way, and our Felix was a fighter.
Selena and Dani moved away, but I have continued to raise Felix as my own. He likes the sunny spot on the balcony of my current apartment, and I look forward to coming home to see how he's doing. Every day he grows stronger and taller, and I am so proud of the ficus he has become.
All because two people fell in love. Boy (big space) friend fell in love with Dani, and I fell in love with Felix.
