A Heart that Loves

( 355 words )
A heart that loves knows no walls to contain it, no rights or wrongs to restrain its flutterings; this world’s rules can’t create boundaries and tell it to change its object of affection, just because expressing it is forbidden and can hurt many.

But to love in secret, borne on the wings of prayer, is noble. Even if the object is out of reach, the heart can soar and seek its joy, exercise its freedom to love, to fan its embers into a consuming fire.

But love, unexpressed because it can’t be selfish, can drown one in the sorrow of loneliness; trapped in an ever-widening ripple that can engulf and lull one into a vortex of pain, it will know no cure nor find resolution.

I saw you, the object of my fearful, innocent youth, standing tall and dreamy-eyed, looking carefree, confident and full of life’s exuberance. I would often watch your swaggering stride across the campus.

You saw me, i sparked your interest, we danced in the shared songs and music of our time. But we both stood on the edge, hesitated too long, and lost the opportunity. The “ what ifs “ and the “ maybes “ will have no end. We struggled too long with our fears of rejection; hemmed in at all sides by the waves of other people’s lives, we allowed it to block our sights.

A pity, our paths just crossed and we failed to see THE MEETING POINT, where we could have touched, held and grasped each other’s hand, held tight and not let go. Only God knows: would love have blossomed and carried us over into safe shores?

Now, we are old people with the hearts of the ageless. It pains me to let go of the person I have come to know. Only my choice, and the freedom of self-expression in words that i treasure, and of which others will not read or hear about, gives me the right to love the person that you are. To wait for another lifetime for you, or walk away. And just wish you, and everyone in your world, a happy and joyous tomorrow.