A painted family crest — all blooms and wildflowers, a wallpaper floral for the heartbroken gentry. It bloomed on Olive's wall like a shield, draped a coffin like a lullaby, then found itself on canvas, under hot lights for coins to finance strangers who endured or escaped dust and war. No blood royal, no ancient name — just loss, love, and color masquerading as heritage. A crest not to what we once were, but to what we got through.

This piece was donated for auction in the Parwana Aid to Afghanistan Fundraiser.