She dropped her shyness like a nightgown, and in the liquid glare of sunlight on old boards she held up her hands-as if, in the terror of the upcoming skirmish, she had at last understood that she was beautiful. In her own way.
― Gregory Maguire, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
Below is the original photo used to create this image. I found this lovely and unusual flower in a small garden near my parking deck in downtown Richmond, VA. No special lighting or retouching, just a snap from my smart phone.
D.M. Sessous: writer, artist & dreamer 