Dear friend,

You know who you are.  I don't have to say your name.  I wonder at times if you know just what you mean to me.  I have very few friends... but each is as different and precious as the finest jewel.  And you are the brightest of the lot.

I wrote a letter today.  A letter full of my true feelings.  My pain and fear and lonliness.  I had good intentions of putting it here.

Instead I shared it with you.  And in that sharing I let go of much of that pain.  In your kind, quiet listening... in your *being* I was able to find some peace in myself and get the courage to take the next step.

Even though you were having a bad day, you still had the time and energy to let me speak the words in my heart... and when those words came short (as they usually do) your energy and your love made me feel like I was still understood and loved.

So I write to say thank you... and I love you... and I appreciate you.  And I write to say that, although those words were real and true at that moment, I no longer need that letter.

My path is still long and I know it will be dark in places, but I know I am not alone on my journey.  I have all those inside whom I treasure so dear.  I have more people in my life than ever before.  I have some worth and some power.  I have you as my dearest friend.  And most importantly, I have *me*.

With all my love,

Ashee