Let’s call her Almond. She is a smart, talented, beautiful, funny, kind woman who is very well loved by a lot of people. How could anyone not love her? Aside from the qualities mentioned above – she is really among those few genuinely nice people. The goodness of her heart shines through in anyway. Even people she doesn’t personally know, but who has seen her, spoke even one word with her, has all the good words you can think of when asked what they think of that good woman named Almond.
She’s a bit sheltered, a bit naive, and yet has a rebellious streak in her – which shows in her hair and clothes and her art and music. She’s never boring, not the usual goody-two-shoe. In ways she is Madonna, with the allure of a fine British actress with the heart of Mother Theresa.
She puts other people first, perhaps 90 percent of the time. She has always been careful of other people’s feelings and will not deliberately hurt anyone. If she ever does, trust that she’d be running with a plea for a heart to heart, and a warm hug. She is one of those people whom you’d be grateful to have in your life.
She is every man’s dream girl. And yet, the men whom she has allowed in her life had been reckless and cruel. She is always the one left behind. We all know how she loves, and it’s the kind of love that any decent, sane man could ever ask for and want. But how come they’re never content, and still leave her?
Several years ago, there is this man whom we’ll call Pierce. He loved her, she loved him. They were together for almost two years. They looked great together. Everyone says what a fine couple they make. Theirs seemed like a match made in heaven. And the people who know them were all hoping they’d end up in the altar, exchanging vows. But a couple of months before their 2nd year, they parted ways. They both said it was a mutual decision. Something they had to do to give way to opportunities that are coming their way. Both of them, after all, had flourishing careers and chances to grow and further succeed are coming in left and right.
Everybody felt sad by their decision, and yet understood. Until barely two months after we knew they parted ways, Pierce made this announcement that he is getting married, to a woman he has only know in less than a month. And they’re getting married in a week! Of course, pierce being in the same circle and them having a lot of common friends, the news reached Almond. And she hasn’t been seen a lot since.
She went away, on hiatus – rested and got herself busy with other things, while she healed. And Pierce enjoy a seemingly blissful married life. For almost a year. For months before he and his wife reached their first year anniversary, they announced it is not working, and will not work, ever. Several months later, their marriage were officially annulled. At the same time, Almond has moved on, and was busy focusing herself on things she is passionate about. Pierce remained friends with his ex-wife, who went jet-setting again, as she has always been doing before – right after their annulment was finalized. They were clearly better off as friends.
Pierce has regained Almond’s friendship as well. Sorrys were said, i-forgive-yous were given. They even worked on projects together. They have always been into the same things so it was easy to break the ice and be friends again.
But nobody is hoping for a reconciliation, for a second chance. Everybody knows how hurt Almond was when Pierce left her, and how painful it was when she learned he was even getting married. That was a really dark phase in her life. She can be friends with him, but she just cannot trust him with her heart again.
So, they’re friends now, right? But over the past weeks they have been working on a project together, and going to gatherings together. Their families, after all are friends too. And recently she has been losing focus, becoming quite emotional and a tad confused.
He is asking for a second chance. Can they start again? Almond doesn’t know if she is still hurt, or if she still love him, or will she be willing to allow him back into her life. Lately she has been asking us that question – do we believe in giving people who has hurt us so much in the past, a second chance?
It’s not that he is pressuring her to decide. But his wanting to get back, was enough to make Almond’s world whirl unsteadily again. She is at that point where she is ready, and willing to settle down. But will she want to spend the rest of her life with someone who broke her heart into pieces and left her in the dark years ago?
When she asked me, my answer was no. but ultimately it’s still her decision. And in case she decides to give him that second chance, he has to work doubly, even triply hard for it. And prove to her, that he is worthy of it. And we know that’s not easy.
How about you – what do you think? What would you do?
