There was nothing to be done. From then on, there were flowers waiting for me every time we met, and in the end I gave in, because I was disarmed by the spontaneity of giving and understood tha Lucie cared for it; perhaps her tongue-tied state, her lack of verbal eloquence, made her think of flowers as a form of speech; not in the sense of heavy-handed conventional flower symbolism, but in a sense still more archaic, more nebulous, more instinctive, prelinguistic; perhaps, having always been sparing of words, she longed for that mute stage of evolution when there were no words and people communicated by simple gestures
The speaker reflects on a profound change in his relationship with Lucie, characterized by the unexpected gift of flowers during their encounters. Initially uncertain about the significance of these gestures, he ultimately succumbs to their charm, recognizing that they represent a deep care from Lucie, who struggles with verbal communication. The flowers symbolize an instinctual form of expression that transcends spoken language, connecting them in a more primal way.
Lucie's reliance on flowers as a means of communication reveals her desire to return to a simpler form of interaction, one that exists before the complexities of language. This connection fosters a unique bond between them, highlighting the contrast between spoken words and the raw emotional power of unspoken gestures. Through this experience, the speaker gains insight into the nature of communication and the profound meaning that can be conveyed through such simple acts of giving.
