Friendships, Mirrors & Love — Being There For Eachother

“Tell me more about the mirror in my heart and soul.”

Dancing Elephants Press Prompt 24/52

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A picture in my House. Image by Annelise Lords

Write a story on how a friend, family member or someone you did not even know touched your life and was there when you needed them.

“I am tired of Joseph and his dirty and dishonest habits and life,” Dorothy complains about the life and living of her son, to her support group of two females and one male as the waiter hands them their menus.

Paul and Verona rose, their menus in their hands, going towards the empty table nearby.

“Wait a minute!” Dorothy called out. “Where are you going?”

Halting a few feet away, Paul informs, “You didn’t check the mirror inside of you like we suggested months ago.”

“And we are tired of your empty complaints,” Verona adds as she and Paul move to the next table.

The look Dorothy gave Iona, who sat staring at her, flipped from her heart, “I don’t have any kids yet. I am here to learn.”

Silence shared its moments and Dorothy relents, “come on, lets join them.”

The expression on Paul and Verona’s faces as Dorothy pulled out one of two chairs, she explained, “tell me more about the mirror in my heart and soul.”

Paul’s eyes swayed to Verona, who nodded, and Dorothy and Iona sat down.

Verona enlightens, “every human has a mirror of their actions, choices, decisions, and habits, in their heart and soul. Every wrong they did, if they want the truth, they can go back and find it, with the help of awareness.”

“What if I lack the ability to be aware?” Iona questioned.

“Then your life will be like a merry-go-round of pain, sadness and regrets,” Paul answered.

“Going back will take a lot of strength,” Iona said, her thoughts on her past journeys.

“The truth usually demands a lot of strength,” Paul informs.

“And it’s worth your time and energy, if that’s what you want,” Verona chimed in.

“But what if they don’t know what the truth is?” Iona quest.

Paul nods, handing this one to Verona, who shares, “the truth has more pain attached to it than lies. That’s why lies are so easy to be seen, said, and accepted.”

“Damn!” dived from Iona’s thoughts.

“The truth also comes with guilt of self,” Verona adds, her eyes on Dorothy.

“That’s a reason not to go back,” Iona admits. “The truth hurts, and guilt tears the heart and soul apart.”

“But it will allow you the wisdom to make better decisions, which will lessen the pain,” Paul interjects, his eyes on Dorothy.

“I have no children,” Iona reminds her crew.

“All of us must go back for something,” Verona insists. “Her,” pointing to Dorothy. “She must go back to how she raised her child to find the wrong things that have contributed to how he lived his life.”

“But what if she isn’t responsible for his decisions? Society often blames mothers and not fathers.” Iona argues.

“The truth will still be there,” Verona insists. “I and others depending on how we were raised and the hell or heaven it adds to our lives, our decisions go back to something, someone did. Making the right decisions is then up to us.”

“It’s hard, ok!” Dorothy confessed while battling the pain and hell her only child put her through. “I made mistakes. How do I fix it now?”

Silence’s moments played its tune, and Paul eased in gently, “go back to the mirror of your heart and soul. You can replay the scenes that you did while raising him. The answers to all of what you did right and wrong are already available to you now according to how he lives his life. Then you can add change to the scene you wish him to become. Because no matter what humans tell themselves, the heart and soul always, always know the truth.”

“I don’t know if I can do that,” Dorothy states.

“Guilt, regret, and your fear of the truth are all you will be fighting. Yes, you will need strength. But if you don’t, pain, guilt, and regret are all you will know for the rest of your life,” Paul educates.

Iona’s eyes popped and she calmly confessed, “I hate pain, guilt, and regret, but I love the truth.” Turning to Dorothy, she consoles, “I don’t have children, but I know the pain of guilt, regret, and the truth. I also know the value of having the truth as a friend. And girl,“ Iona stressed reaching out to touch her, ”when pain and reality hits, you don’t want the truth to be your enemy.”

Weeping, Dorothy admits, “I don’t know how much longer I can endure this pain. What do I do?”

“Go back to the mirror, to the first day you found out that you were giving life to someone. Then skip to the joy your heart held on to when you first laid eyes on your son. If you can’t find the courage or strength to save him, there is no love left in your heart for him. Then you failed him and yourself. Because it shouldn’t end if the love is gone,” Iona slam dunks the truth inside of everyone.

P.S. Does it end when the love is gone? Just me wondering.

Tears flowing, wrestling with her past, Iona excused herself and hurried to the ladies’ room, as shock rushed to the surface of everyone’s eyes. Three pairs of eyes guide her path as she walks away.

Silence took its moments, as her power of words shifted hearts, minds, souls, and thoughts, while ideas flowed around.

Iona returned and peace, love, happiness, and strength welcomed and embraced her.

“Are you sure you have no children?” Dorothy asked.

“Yeah,” Verona adds. “What you just said was so deep and so beautiful, it’s like you can feel Dorothy’s pain.”

“I don’t have to be a mother to feel her pain. I was a child too. A problem child. My mother refused to give up on me. I would have become your son if she did. Don’t you ever give up on your child. Your love is the only thing that will strengthen him. It’s like a blanket when he is cold. Food when he is hungry. Water when he is trapped in the desert of life. He needs you now that he is doing all of the wrong things, than when he is doing the right ones. Fight to save him,” Iona encouraged.

All of us have a mirror of truth inside of our hearts and soul. Guilt, regret, and fear of the truth will help to hinder us from going back. Strength is there. Whatever it takes to save yourself, your child, a friend, or someone you love. Find the strength to go back. They will thank you for being there for them when they need you the most.

This is actually true, but was written this way for clearer understanding.

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