A red tulip

Viviana is sitting in front of me, waiting her turn, inside a beauty salon.

Her lots of salt and pepper curly hair, an important black frame of glasses, and a beautiful red tulip-shaped brooch, immediately capture my attention.

“How much personality!” I think.

Every expression of this stranger tells me the story of a strong, courageous, cheerful but at the same time delicate woman, just like the tulip she wears.

There are encounters that, even if they happen by chance, were already predestined.

I have a little chit-chat, I congratulate her on her original look and I understand that Viviana is a special, creative soul.

She tells me the story of her brooch, which she made in her tailor’s shop.

She talks about the choice of that point of red, not at all random, about the meaning this flower has for her and the memories it arouses.

“It was the color of the flowers my dad gave my mom when I was little. Nothing is random. I made the stem with black and white stripes, to represent the desire to cross the streets, therefore to walk in the world, with passion, hopping between the stripes, almost playing.”

These words are so full of life and love that… they touch me deeply. How much beauty in this gentle soul.

Now Viviana’s tulip is hooked on the left lapel of my jacket, close to my heart and her wishes continue to accompany me step by step.

“I give it to you so that this little flower can always dance with you.”

I am increasingly convinced that kindness will save this world or at least, it will save our hearts.