Eternal Bloom

Once upon a time, a poppy bloomed in the garden of my life—a delicate, yet unyielding symbol of everything I have endured and all that I have become. To me, this flower carries the weight of a love story that transcends loss and blossoms into growth and purpose.

The poppy speaks softly of Olivia, the love of my life, who taught me the profound meaning of unconditional devotion. Even in her absence, her presence endures—whispering to me through the quiet beauty of flowers. Like the morning her blooms fell perfectly onto my pillow, a tender reminder that she has never truly left me. The poppy, with its deep-rooted symbolism of remembrance and renewal, feels like yet another one of her gifts—her way of urging me to keep moving forward, to seek beauty in the ache, and to honor the love we shared by continuing to bloom.

This past year has been a season of profound transformation. Just seven days after Olivia’s passing, I earned my master’s degree in social work and stepped into my calling as a therapist. To hold both the immeasurable ache of loss and the courage to embrace new purpose feels like no coincidence—these moments, though bittersweet, were destined to intertwine. The poppy, known for its quiet resilience and its ability to thrive in the most barren of fields, mirrors my own path. It has shown me how grief can become a vessel for love, how pain can be transformed into purpose, and how our deepest wounds can inspire us to help others heal.

The connection feels almost written in the stars. The poppy is the birth flower of August, the month I entered this world—a constant reminder of who I am at my core: someone who grows through adversity, finds strength in compassion, and believes deeply in planting seeds of hope in others’ lives. Just as the poppy blooms vibrantly in unexpected places, Olivia’s love has given me the courage to bloom even where it felt impossible.

Her memory carries me. Olivia passed on December 8th, a date intertwined with the infinity symbol—an eternal connection that binds my physical world to the afterlife where she now resides. The number 7, which held such significance in her life, and the number 8, which has taken on new meaning in this year of rebirth, are woven into the very fabric of my story. Born in the eighth month, with an innate affinity for the poppy, I feel as though this flower, this symbol, was always meant to find me.

This tattoo is not merely ink—it is a living piece of my story. It is a tribute to Olivia, who continues to inspire, guide, and speak to me. It is a testament to my resilience, my purpose, and the beauty that has emerged from the depths of loss. Most of all, it is a promise: to carry her love forward, to plant seeds of hope, and to trust that even in grief, life can bloom once more. For Olivia has shown me that love does not end—it grows, it transforms, and it continues to live on in the hearts we touch, the memories we hold, and the stories we share. And through this work, through this love, and through the poppies that bloom, she is with me always.

Remy Curtlee, MSW, RCSWI