Lonely and Flora

As I sit here atop this shelf, watching everyone filter in and out of this bright, fluorescent-filled room, I can't help but wonder what it would be like to escape. How I wish I could return to my native homeland to be with those that truly cared. We all helped each other survive. No one here seems to care if I live or die. I'm just a dusty, old plant. No sunlight, no soil massaging my tired roots. I hope nobody can see my once-beautiful-green leaves drooping; I'm supposed to look pretty and add life to the room. Only the opposite of life is radiating from my roots.

I miss Cash. I had fun with him. He loved me. He used to nestle his fins between my roots and envelope himself within me while he slept. She took him somewhere - took him away from me, my only friend. I tried to help him get better. It wasn't my fault he got sick, was it? I'm sorry, Cash, my fishy friend. I hope you're okay, wherever you disappeared to . I hope you're being taken care of. I guess I wasn't good enough, just like I'm not good enough for this dungeon-of-a-room.

She gave me fresh water today. That was nice. Maybe she does care after all, who knows. It helped my posture; I'm standing taller.

I wonder what that other one thinks of this place, of these people - these people who don't seem to care about life outside this room. Bamboo, I think her name is. She's much more beautiful than I am, with her heart-shaped body and ceramic elephant stand. She gets more attention than me; she probably likes it here. Surrounded by her beauty, I turn away, hoping she doesn't notice my nearly lifeless petals.

"Hey, you," I motioned, waving my leaves ever so slightly as if there were a breeze in this windowless room, trying to get her attention. I want to tell her, the girl-who's-boss-hates-her, to go, escape this room, escape these people, escape this place, otherwise she'll end up like me - alone, trying to scream for freedom, but no one seems to hear. Time is escaping both of us; she needs to get out. And, when she goes, I hope she takes me with her.