A distant memory

I don't know if I should be writing this at all. It is a long forgotten story and not entirely mine to tell. But I was jolted by this memory today, this teenage memory...

I had befriended this girl in secondary school. I think I first initially did so because I felt sorry for her. She was shy, difficult to understand and not popular at all. As I got to know her better, I realized that there was a good, honest person hidden in there who was so lacking in love from anyone. She does not know her biological parents and was adopted by an older lady who had grandiose ideas of being in high society. When her mom found out about my family background, she was forced to insist that my family invite them for dinners and events. I will give my mom kudos for how she handled everything in graciousness and compassion. I remember the incident when her mom confronted my mom, and how my friend thought everything would fall to pieces. It didn't. I told her that nothing will change my mind about who she is, because she has always been true to me, and we had to be brave in the face of adversity. I was steadfast in our friendship, until the immense seas parted us.

I have not seen her since I was 17. We recently connected on facebook, and as I was lamenting about whether my life bears positive testimony, if I have done good for others, she wrote me the sweetest message.

You certainly touched my life in ways that you couldn't even begin to imagine... and have definitely impacted who I have become today. I, for one, celebrate the beautiful heart and soul you have and know that I would have be that much poorer if you had not been a part of my life.

I had actually forgotten what our friendship was like. She is right. I never thought that I had any bearing on her life. I did what I could and thought was right at that point in time. And, it appears that it had touch her. Now, it's her turn to touch me, to help me through my life. It gladdens me to know that how I've lived hasn't been for nothing, that it hasn't been wrong. For that, I am eternally grateful.