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What Remains

We all have a story and, in the end, it is our story that remains. At the end of 2016, I wondered what remained of the girl I had once been, the girl who didn't realize at the time that she was pretty and had gifts that should be appreciated. It was then that I set out to find her, to see if I would recognize her, and to see if I could entice to come back home. She remained elusive for months. But, I was relentless in my pursuit. I walked for miles on a daily basis chasing her, knowing deep down inside that she was still alive and that, somewhere out there, she existed.

I would catch glimpses of her in windows and in mirrors, but she was always just outside of my grasp. Every morning, I would set out determined that day would be the day that I would find her. And, every day, I got a little closer to catching her. Months into the chase, something happened. I saw her walking just a few yards ahead of me. I picked up the pace to catch up to her and I was fearful that she would run from me when she sensed my presence. But, instead, she turned towards me and, for the first time in thirty years, we stood face to face. So many times, I had imagined what I would say to her, what I would do when I found her, but instead I stood there silent and staring.

She acknowledged me, smiled, and asked, "Am I everything you remembered?" And, I broke down and cried at that point because she was everything I remembered and she was back and I was never going to allow myself to lose her again.

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