That night, as she drifted off to sleep, Annie wondered about the woman, as she had the last few days.
In the morning, there was no soup. Weakly, Annie sorted through the clothing. Suddenly, she realized! I still have my flower from the day before! Still, the woman approached her. A blue flower appeared from behind her back. Not a brown flower, a dull gray flower, or even an orange one; a blue flower. “But-” started Annie, holding up the other flower. Silently, the woman shook her head. Out of her hands fell a purple flower. “Hope. Hope for Beauty. Hope for me.”

A guard appeared and led the woman away to the chambers. A tearful smile was the last that Annie saw of her.

As the flames rose, the whole camps smelled of flowers, and of hope….

The End