A Non-Symbol To Symbolism

(My best friend received this review on a fan-fiction she wrote.)

Reviewer: “I really love how you used the imagery of [Character] cutting down a dying rose bush to symbolize him getting over [His Dead Boyfriend] and moving on. I’ve been studying symbolism in college and rarely do I ever see it used well. This was really well done!”

Friend: *to her* “Thank you! I was worried how well that scene would go over, so I’m glad that it resonated with you.”

Friend: *to me* “That scene means nothing. I only included it because the chapter wasn’t long enough and all I could think of was, ‘I really should cut down that dead rose bush by the window that’s obstructing the view of the lawn…’”