Big romantic gestures look great in films…

but in real life, quiet love often means a whole load more. It is true that flowers can be tied to memories. A dozen red roses send me back, way back.

Red roses aren’t romantic to me. They’re intense and symbolic. They show up shouting expectation. How should I respond?

Years ago, whilst I was still scrubbing buckets in a cold florist’s basement for someone else, a man I’d known for years sent a dozen long-stemmed red roses to my place of work. It was meant to be romantic. Instead, it felt like emotional pressure wrapped up in cellophane. Suddenly, a simple catch up felt like a high-stakes romantic event.

I panicked. I gave them away, delayed meeting up, thanked him politely and we never really met up again after that.

Crazy situation then, and then quite out of the blue, loads of years later, I bumped into him whilst flowering up a wedding venue. He was the best man and told to check the venue. We were both surprised. He laughed and told me he’d never bought red roses again.

Honestly? Probably for the best.

I like roses. But I love a flower that feels like a quiet conversation not a shouting statement.

Not all love needs to be loud.

Not all love is red.

But all your flowers should be Cosmic x