I have a thistle suspended in a paperweight—forever frozen in its perfect beauty. It will never feel the wind lift it from its stem, scatter its seeds. Is it protected or imprisoned? Has its beauty eclipsed the wonder of fulfillment? Does it reflect, as I do, on the unknown?

A prolific writer, Carol Reeves is loving the freedom and challenges of 50 word stories. Her memoir, “All the Little Miracles,” was published last year. She often writes about the privilege and vicissitudes of aging.