Beauty for Ashes

This week is V-Week at Westminster: a campus-wide event to raise awareness about sexual violence against women. Today we joined in and spent the lunch rush at the student union handing out these roses to women. I thoroughly enjoyed spectating as Amie and Danielle offered a flower to every woman that passed. I don't know how they did it, but I think they engaged with every single woman walking by. And while not everyone took them up on the offer, it certainly wasn't because they weren't given the opportunity!

My favorite part was watching their faces light up as they realized that the rose was free and came with nothing more than an invitation attached. One woman even left skipping. But I'd say that student might be particularly prone to skipping.

Amie and Danielle sought out the more "invisible" women: those hiding behind earphones and hats pulled low, food service, and custodial staff. It was this group of invisible women that appeared to be the most startled and blessed by the offered rose. Those were the sweetest smiles to see.