She covered the window to her soul with shutters. They were needed to withstand the storm. She knew the damage the rain and winds could do. And so she burrowed safely inside. Frozen by the fear of what an open window might bring.

Each day, the sounds of life outside caused her heart to bubble. Her imagination became her refuge. In her mind, she could safely dream creating worlds filled with love and life. At first this was enough, bringing warmth and fullness to her heart.

But one day, she heard a knocking on her shutter. It was quiet that first day, and she resisted its call. Outside, she could hear the sounds of a person just like her. Some days, she would sit and listen to the words he spoke longing to step outside and see him. She began to crack open the shutters, unable to resist the pull her heart felt.

To be continued…