Where the Bridges Grow

"The Flower of Memory" tells the poignant story of Bouta and his daughter Dewika, two Surinamese souls separated by years of silence, political shadows, and unspoken pain. In the Netherlands, they meet again. Dewika doesn’t speak with blame, but with a deep yearning for truth, recognition, and healing. At her side is Soraya, her daughter, the granddaughter Bouta never knew. At the same time, Dewika is confronted with an unexpected inheritance from her former partner, a man who once abused her. This legacy forces her to face a past she believed she had left behind, and to choose between justice, resentment, and inner freedom. Soraya, perceptive and open-hearted, senses what her mother and grandfather struggle to express. Her presence becomes the quiet force that brings them closer. Through this fragile reunion, something begins to shift—not only between father, daughter, and granddaughter, but also within themselves. And in the background stands Suriname, a silent witness to both history and hope. The Flower of Memory is a tender novel about reconciliation, generational pain, and the courage it takes to speak the truth—gently, but unwaveringly.