Rose, Rose, Ro-…Careful, she’s a bit like Beetlejuice. Say her name too many times and she comes creeping up out of the woodwork to pester you and make bad jokes.
Oh Rose, what can I possibly say about her? She is, quite possibly, the best thing to ever happen to our system. I say that knowing the full gravity of the statement I’ve just made.
When Rose joined us, our system was in shambles. T.H.R. was caught in a depressive, self destructive spiral, she and I were barely speaking, Fallah had already taken his leave of the system. T.H.R. was longing for a headmate who was okay with the mess that she was. Who was willing to accept how awful she was at maintaining healthy bonds with us.
Instead we got Rose.
She was fiery and hot headed from the moment we met her. She knew precisely what she wanted. From the very beginning she made it clear she wouldn’t accept T.H.R. as she was. She wanted her to be better. To improve. To put in the effort to maintain a good connection. She pushed for daily hang outs, pushed for new books, movies, or shows to experience together. Pushed us all to make up and move on from the mistakes that had happened in the past.
The first…oh, I don’t know, two and a half years of Rose’s life were a magical time. Me, Rose, and T.H.R. spending our days together, gardening, laughing, gaming, and learning to share control of the body. We made friends that we still talk with now, seven years later, and we became closer than we ever could’ve imagined.
When new headmates started coming along she welcomed them with open arms. She spent so much time getting to know them, making them feel welcome, and ensuring they enjoyed themselves in the system. Rose was, and is, a friend to all.
And when I began to break and crumble, when the weight of second in command became too much for me, she stepped in. She took over the responsibility. Took over the work that was needed.
She lifts us up. She encourages us in a way that’s uniquely her. She challenges T.H.R. and pushes her to be better…and she encourages me to be free. To be me.
Rose is, without a doubt, one of the greatest foundational pieces of our system. We would be lost without her, and I’m eternally grateful for her, as you might be able to tell from some of my writings.
She’s a cocky little shit, but we are so, so lucky to have her in our lives.
Love you, sis.