Another wonderfully confusing and enticing chapter! I love this line- I really feel like the mix of confusion and surety it is the embodiment of this story:

He wants to say it, remembers he never learned it, but suddenly it bursts into his mind and he realizes it’s the only name it ever could have been. He says it carefully, his mouth mindful of thorns. “Rose?”

"Mouth mindful of thorns" is amazing, too. I read it like, five times. I think it is such a beautiful image. Fantastic. I can't wait for more!