Gratitude, Unwrapped

It wasn’t wrapped in paper.
It wasn’t tied with a ribbon.
And it didn’t look like something meant to sit quietly on a table.

The flowers were held together by instinct rather than symmetry. Stems exposed, lines uneven, blooms placed where they felt right instead of where they were expected to be. It felt honest. Almost vulnerable.

Mei Lin chose it deliberately.

She had thought about getting a bouquet. Something neat, something polished, something that would be easy to explain. But the more she looked, the more she realised that neatness wasn’t what she wanted to express.

Gratitude, at least the kind she felt, wasn’t tidy.

The past year had stretched her in ways she hadn’t prepared for. Work demands grew heavier. Family responsibilities quietly multiplied. She learned how to be dependable, how to keep things moving even when she felt unsure. There were days she showed up without knowing how she would get through them, only that she had to.

And there were people who noticed.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
But they stayed.

Her mentor, who checked in after long days.
Her colleague, who covered for her without being asked.
Her sister, who reminded her to rest even when everything felt urgent.

None of them needed grand gestures. But they deserved recognition.

When Mei Lin saw this arrangement from White On White, she understood it immediately. It wasn’t arranged to impress. It was arranged to feel. The structure was intentional, but flexible. Strong, but not rigid. Just like the kind of support she had received all year.

She ordered it through same day delivery, unsure how it would be received. It felt unconventional, almost risky. But gratitude, she realised, doesn’t always need to follow expectations.

When she handed it over later that evening, there was a brief pause. A moment of surprise. Then understanding.

“It’s different,” her mentor said softly.

Mei Lin nodded.
“So was this year.”

They laughed gently, and for a moment, everything settled.

This arrangement wasn’t meant to last forever in perfect form. Some blooms would open wider. Some would fade sooner. But that felt right too. Gratitude isn’t about preserving moments. It’s about acknowledging them while they exist.

Not all thank yous need to be polished.
Not all appreciation needs to be wrapped.

Sometimes, the most meaningful gratitude is the kind that shows up exactly as it is. Honest. Unfiltered. Unwrapped.