A Gift From the Heart of a Friend

She stares at me and then closes her eyes. A tinge of early dawn plays on her cheek as it peeks through the glass curtains by my desk. I grow warmer, waiting in silence for her first uncertain word and the gentle touch of her hand. She fidgets and rocks in her chair. She cannot hold her thoughts inside much longer.

We've been meeting like this for months. Some days she rambles, pouring out her soul. She talks of yesterday's sorrows and tomorrow's distant shores. She tells me her needs, desires, dreams, and passions.

Sometimes she teases me with impossible notions that she only wishes she believed. When she's feeling light, she weaves amusing tales and tells me jokes. I accept her as perfect - always perfect as she is.

Finally she opens her eyes, and a tear drop falls. The emotions are about to flow. "Okay," she whispers under her breath. I see her desperation and project my own inner light toward her. Her eyes glow with expectancy. She pours out her soul and discovers buried treasures.

She paints a portrait of her father and rehearses what she will tell him after all these years. She's filled with hope that he will finally understand. Her spirit lifts. My mind dances furiously recording her thoughts and prayers.

Perhaps if she explains honestly, he will listen, and they can finally heal the relationship. Today she isn't muddling in the past. She is moving forward. Today is a new beginning.

She connects with the core of her being and pauses briefly to reminisce. She plays with a vivid memory, and more tears come - tears of joy. She pauses again, and I wait.

I grasp every privileged thought and confession. Her emotions rush like unrelenting rivers until she's quiet, still, and at peace.

She whispers, "There's nothing more to say now."

She asks me to remember her most secret longings, to guard them like precious mysteries. Again, I do.

She leaves feeling lighter, at ease, and confident. Will she call him or write to him? I won't ever ask, and she will tell me when the time is right.

Sometimes I wish I could feel emotions like she does and tell her what to say that would make everything alright. But I will not interfere.

I have no delicate heart like hers - only a large and finite memory to preserve her most endeared treasures.

I'm simply her computer, a faithful ear in the early morning hours when she pours out her soul through my keyboard - a precious gift from the heart of a friend.

© Copyright by Steve Brunkhorst. Reprinted from Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration. Achieve! brings great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring thoughts to brighten your day and help you achieve more in your life and career. Get the next issue by visiting http://achieveezine.com.

Examiner.com

Relationships in the news: Jennifer Garner fears stalker Examiner.com - 12 hours ago by Debra Collins, Relationship Examiner Actress Jennifer Garner was granted a three year restraining order today for herself, her husband Ben Affleck, ...

Plenty of past relationships in Apple Cup SportingNews.com - 23 hours ago SEATTLE (AP) -- Cody Bruns used to get grief as a kid growing up in southeastern Washington. Smack in the middle of Cougar country, Bruns would proudly wear ...

Know which relationships count Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - Nov 19, 2008 Good for Tom Friedman, the St. Louis Park kid who grew up to become a topnotch New York Times columnist and author, for paying attention to the relationship ... Video: Aide: Obama on Track to Nominate Clinton AssociatedPress Clinton as top US diplomat? OK by top GOP senator The Associated Press Obama cabinet vetting process the most rigid on record Toronto Star Examiner.com - Christian Science Monitor all 4,649 news articles

Anixter International Inc. Comments on Customer Bankruptcy MarketWatch - 7 hours ago A current assessment of our key customer relationships shows this situation to be unique in terms of the circumstances and relative size of the exposure. ... Anixter to take charge on customer bankruptcy Chicago Tribune Anixter International Inc. Comments on Customer Bankruptcy International Business Times all 21 news articles

SafePlace awared $1M grant to promote safe teen relationships Bizjournals.com, NC - Nov 20, 2008 SafePlace has been awarded a grant of up to $1 million from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for a program that promotes healthy, safe teen relationships. ... $18 Million Dollar Initiative to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence PNN Boston gets $1 million to prevent teen violence Boston Globe (registration) all 6 news articles

Better family relationships goal of Placerville program Sacramento Bee,  USA - 2 hours ago By Cathy Locke By Cathy Locke "Parenting from the Heart" workshops, designed to help parents improve their relationship with their children, will be offered ...

Round Valley schools focus on relationships, new ideas White Mountain Independent, AZ - 5 hours ago Udall, in his third year with the district, said Round Valley schools will continue to focus on relationships, both among each other and with parents. ...

Relationships with caregivers in childcare affect kids’ stress Entertainment and Showbiz!, India - 15 hours ago Conflicted relationships were said to occur when teachers tried to control resistant children, when children perceived their teachers as unfriendly, ...

Skyworks' Good Relationships Zacks.com, IL - 3 hours ago Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS) designs, manufactures, and markets wireless semiconductor solutions for the mobile communications industry. ...

Bitter Breakup Playlist Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA - 6 hours ago That’s right, some single people feel the need to get rid of the shaky, expiration-dating relationships in order to avoid awkward gift exchanges, ...