Demand And Supply

He always had an attraction to that which would catch the eye. A lover of the impressive. A collector of sorts. 

So that he stopped to admire her should have been no surprise. 

She was lovely- a young seedling, brimming with potential. He looked at her approvingly and dreamed of what she might be. He took a small piece of one of her delicate leaves and found that it was good to eat. 

Soon, he knew, she would begin to produce bigger, more flavorful leaves. She would bloom and her flowers would be beautiful. 

He needed her. He wanted her. He had to have her. 

So he claimed her as his own. He watered her daily. He showered her with attention and meticulous care. He watched as she grew and sprouted new leaves, and he took the ones that pleased him. 

Those that passed would see him working tirelessly for her, day and night. 

"What a loving caretaker!" they said among themselves. "When does he ever rest?" 

He heard their whispers of approval and beamed with satisfaction. His work was just beginning. 

The days passed, and she sprouted branches, each with new leaves of their own. And each time he returned, he happily took what he wanted. 

One or two leaves. Or three. 

When she looked healthy, maybe more. 

He came back to water her, with the knowledge that everything he gave her would be replenished and would reward him twofold.

He was drawn back to her day after day. He craved the taste, the fulfillment, the satisfaction. He needed more. 

So he took more. 

And more. 

And as time went on, he began to test the limits of just how many leaves he could take without destroying her. 

Just one more. 

Maybe two. 

Until one day, he began to notice that new leaves had not been sprouting as quickly. That no flowers were appearing like he had imagined. That she was looking wilted. This beautiful plant he had dreamed of was not materializing. 

She was broken, he realized. 

After all he had done to nurture her? It wasn't right. He deserved better. 

Everyone could attest to it- he gave her his all. Every passerby knew of his devotion to her. 

He should have been getting something back in return, he thought. It was only fair. 

He watered her a bit more, holding back his frustration. Maybe she just needed time. 

So he waited until new leaves sprouted.

And they did- small, bright, new little leaves. He was pleasantly satisfied and gleaned to his delight. 

But in the next coming days, again no new leaves sprouted. He watched and waited in frustration. He came back to water her in hopes that she would have something for him. But nothing appeared. 

Days passed. 

Still nothing. 

She was wilted and sick. People no longer noticed her like they had before. They still saw that he was working tirelessly for her, but their acknowledgement fell flat to him, as he waited there, empty handed. She gave him nothing anymore. 

He waited a bit longer in hopes that she would redeem herself. That something would change. 

But it didn't. She only grew weaker. 

So when something caught his eye down the road- new plants, full and ready to be picked- his mind was made up. He had no more time to wait and watch her die. 

She was not what he had hoped for. She was useless to him now. 

And there was more to be had just down the road. 

And with that, he stomped her a few times into the dirt, crushing what was left of her wilting form. If he didn't need her, no one did. 

And he left to glean what he wanted elsewhere. 

Those that used to watch him caring for his plant stopped to question him. Why had he abandoned her? What made him leave? He had loved her so much, they thought. 

His anger spilled from his mouth as he told them how much time and energy he had wasted on her. How he devoted everything he was into helping her grow. How he watered her with fervor.

How one day, she stopped producing leaves. How she never even bloomed. 

That she was sick. Weak. Broken. 

That he tried. Oh, how he tried. 

But he couldn't wait forever. She asked for too much and gave nothing in return. She took advantage of him. She took his care for granted. She wanted his care and yet deprived him of the only thing he expected of her.

And some would nod their heads in understanding. Some would join him in his rage.

"How unfair!" They would say. 

They would urge him to move on and find something better- something more deserving of his tireless devotion. They would console him in his grief and ache in sympathy of the unjust betrayal thrust upon him. 

They would encourage him to be strong. To keep his head up. 

But as they kept him company in his anger and misery, something began to happen just back up the road.

The wilted flower, stomped into the dirt, crushed and crumpled and left to die, began to find life again. Her roots had been planted deeply and firmly in the ground. And a new shoot emerged.

Leaves began to sprout. 

Branches. 

More leaves. 

And the sunlight poured in on her, multiplying her strength each day. 

No longer was she wilted. Weak. Dying. 

No longer was she struggling to nourish herself with half of her resources. She could flourish, and bloom, and grow how she should have all along. 

And she did. 

With no one taking what she needed to thrive, she thrived. 

With no one taking what she needed to grow, she grew. 

With no one taking more than what she could give, she produced more than ever before. 

And now, down the road, another depleted plant begins to wilt. It will be discarded soon enough, and another will take its place. 

And so the cycle will continue.

Demand and supply. 

Discover and discard.

But she, lucky enough to be left behind, will bloom and thrive, and let the cycle of misery continue somewhere else down the road.