I found her sitting on a park bench, watching the people pass by and feeding the assorted park creatures. At first my gaze passed over her unrecognized but something had made me pause and look again. It was a vague familiarity in her smile that made me stare in shock. It came as a surprise to finally find her despite all the time I had spent looking for her. Perhaps at some point I despairingly felt she would never be found.

I sat down next to her but we didn't look at each other, she continued to look at the people passing and now as did I. It was an awkward moment to say the least, I was unable to form a beginning to the conversation that needed to happen and unable to look upon the face of the one I had wronged for so long.

Finally, as if she knew I was struggling, she said "It's been a while." Her voice was clear and familiar to me. I sat for a moment in silence just drinking it in. For a reply I merely nodded, not sure of how to answer her statement. "I never thought you'd find me" she added finally. I wanted to reach out to her, but I knew that I had hurt her deeply, and I had to acknowledge that pain I had inflicted before she would accept me.

"By the time I realized you were gone," I stammered, feeling somewhat defensive, "I didn't have any idea of where to look for you." She nodded in agreement, she knew I wouldn't lie to her it would be lying to myself after all. Not that I hadn't done that before, but sitting in her presence in my current state of calmness I didn't feel I needed to.

She looked over at me and our eyes met, and there was deep sadness in them, "I felt unnoticed, and unwanted so one day I slipped away" she said softly. My heart went out to her not only in sympathy but in joy as well. This was exactly what needed to be said, she and I were together again and admitting her pain was a sign that she had missed me too. There was joy in our reunion but I knew I had caused her pain as well. "I looked for you" I replied, which was undeniable. I had looked for her, searched franticly when I had come to my senses. "I was consumed in my passion, undone by my own betrayal I couldn't see anything but my obsession" I admitted to her. She smiled ruefully, "I know, I've seen you do it before, but it was never as bad as this past time. You turned your back on everyone, including me" she said with a hint of disdain. "I wasn't sure you'd make it out alive, you certainly frightened a lot of people."

I nodded, speechless and unable to answer her. It was true, every word she spoke and it hurt my heart to hear the words come out. I had to accept my role in all of this and I did. "I beg your mercy, my sweetest friend. Please stay with me now and walk the path with me." I begged her with my words, my eyes and my soul. Finally after a while of silence she stood and faced me. I looked up at her in dismay expecting a refusal for the suffering I had caused her but instead she held out her hand to me. It was then I knew that she never wanted to leave me and would never voluntarily do so. It was I who drove her away last time though I did not mean to.

I stood up and took her hand and she smiled at me again and I was whole. We walked together out of that park and have since not been parted one moment from each other.