The Stranger Who Has Become a Friend

The memories of times before the darkness were faint, though they lingered. She remembered, vaguely, that there had been a time when the sun hadn't felt like it would burn. A time when the warmth had been part of joy, rather than being the intense kind of warmth.. more like searing heat that was sure to burn. What she couldn't remember was how long ago all of that had been.

 

Then, the stranger who had become a friend had come along. They’d helped her up and reintroduced her to warmth. Though, that’s all it was with them. Warmth. No burning. No searing heat. Just warmth. As if there were a fire blanket between the two of them, shielding her from a more harmfully high heat. She couldn’t really remember a time since the darkness without them in it, somehow.

 

She wouldn't ever forget everything they had done for her. Through a seemingly endless and generous abundance of patience, compassion and gentle care and kindness, the stranger had proven that really, they'd been a friend all along. Only, at first, she hadn't known it. She would always remember the way her now friend had made her feel; safe, supported, seen and held. With them, she felt wanted; even valued. like she was worthy. Of taking risks for, of giving a chance, of knowing. And after everything she had been through, there were no words adequate enough to describe just how powerful and impactful all of that had been, and still was.

 

She supposed the stranger-now-a-friend couldn't stay right by her side indefinitely. There had to come a time, eventually, when she started to stand on her own two feet, by herself. The thought of her friend not being right there was scary, almost terrifying. But them not being right there was all it was. It didn't mean that they weren't around at all, because they were. And they would still be right there, cheering her on. And it didn't mean that she couldn't call on them when she felt like she needed to, because she absolutely could.

 

The way they squeezed her hand before they left her side was particularly meaningful. She met their eyes, and their gaze seemed to say everything they maybe couldn’t find the right words to express out loud. I may not be right here, but I will be with you still, cheering you on just like I always have. You can do this. I know you don’t feel like you are, but you are strong enough. And if you struggle, if you fall… Look around you. 

 

So she did. In the beginning, they had been the only one beside her. But not anymore. Now, there were a lot more people around her. some of them kind and generously willing, like her first stranger-now-a-friend.

There are others now too, you can take your hand, who can walk alongside you and support you. They won't be me, I know. But I won't be too far away. It will be a bit different, but I will still be with you.

She nodded back at them with tear filled eyes. They believed in her when she struggled to believe in herself, just like always. That hadn't changed. What had was that the stranger was not a stranger anymore. They were a friend now. A treasured friend she would hold on to. Maybe this was just a new start.

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This story follows on from No Words, which you can read here. I'm not sure if it's a prequel, sequel, a little of both, or maybe it's just related- I'll leave that for you to decide.