Thunder

It was enough to make me ask what was on her mind. After she chewed her bottom lip several times, stammered a little, fidgetted then twisted the toe of her boot on the stair until I was sure there was going to be a hollow there, I realized it was going to take a bit of prodding to get her started. Finally she just blurted out, “Do you like Vao”?

As a matter of fact, I do. He has been a friend through thick and thin for a very long time.

“No.”

“No”?

“I mean do you really like him”?

I was going to see where this was going before I delved into the answer of that query. “You care for him.” “Well yes … umm no … I mean I do ... but not if you like him.” Now if that didn’t smack of déjà vu. At first, I felt defensive and awkward. First and foremost,I am mated. Then came the explanation that he and I were friends, that we had met when I was ... oh ok nevermind I let that part drop. Then I realized that none of that had anything whatsoever to do with what was on the young woman's mind. This had nothing at all to do with me. Instead I asked her quietly if she had let him know how she felt. There was that same hesitant stutter begin and sigh she had offered before. She had ... sort of ... kind of. The words began to tumble out that her heart skipped a beat when she was around him. That it felt like thunder in her ears ... but

“But … what”?

We were back to the “if I liked him then she didn’t want to jeopardize my happiness or our friendship,” part. I finally challenged Zarna right where she lived. “Alright, let’s say I do “like” him then did that change how she felt? She didn’t answer but slowly nodded her head. It left me shaking mine.

In the end, I told her gently that she needed to be sure of her heart and that she would be when love came. It had its own melody. I didn’t want to see either of them hurt but would rejoice if they found in each other all that they were looking for. In my heart, I had hope there was possibility.

In a way I felt bad that I did not tell her love didn’t need to mark territory or that it did not thrive best inside of insecurities. But these are some of the many things we must all find out for our selves. See even if it is lain out in finest detail … we may not hear the delicate sounds of petals opening.