The Pacifist [COMPLETED]

You Should Tell Her

Joseph

She had done it. And she had done it on her own. Part of Joseph wanted to take credit for Rachel's great overcoming of everything that had dimmed her light, but he knew he couldn't. He stood outside the gallery with its beautifully vibrant display of Rachel's heart in color. Pride, although he had no right to feel it, overcame him when he saw a woman stop to admire the art as well.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" The words came out before he could stop himself. He hated talking to people. He hated talking to people he didn't know even more. Maybe the support meetings were making him more willing to interact with the general public than he had realized.

The woman nodded in a way that signaled she wasn't open for conversation. This caught his attention. So many people were so desperate to be seen that it was draining. It was one of the reasons why he avoided talking to people. They took too much without even trying.

"So is the artist," he added. His desperation to talk to someone about Rachel seeped through, and this person, who wasn't a talker was cracking the dam. His vague words seemed to intrigue her.

"You know the artist?"

Joseph wanted to ask her why the art had captured her attention, but he knew it would be too personal. This person wasn't the type to share. Her walls were so fierce, they were almost offensive rather than defensive against his keen senses. So he just nodded, not trusting himself with the ever cracking dam.

"You should tell her," she said.

"Tell her what?" Joseph hadn't realized he had gotten so caught up in his own thoughts, that he had lost track of their very stilted conversation.

"That you think she's beautiful. I know I'd like for someone to tell me that. And mean it. But like, really mean it. You know?"

The admission stunned Joseph after her terseness. So did her words and their simplicity. Why couldn't he just tell Rachel how he felt? How beautiful he thought she was and how afraid he was of ruining that beauty? Joseph looked more intently at the woman, and understood why Rachel's art resonated with her; she shared the same darkness. This woman had been hurt. Badly. He felt the same urge to help her as he had with Rachel, but he knew it was a very bad idea because it wasn't the kind of help he had told himself he had intended for Rachel. And again, that was a part of him that Rachel still held.

"If it weren't for her," he said, nodding towards the art display, "I would have given you my card. I'm a life coach, but I'm currently taking a break from my business. I can tell you're suffering, and I hope you can find peace." He paused, barely able to stop another one of those horrifying sobs. Rebbecca's words echoed in his mind and this stranger's simple advice made everything crystal clear, making him ready to accept Rebbecca's advice. "Your kind and simple words have given me mine. I will tell her. Thank you."

Joseph turned away from the woman, his mind set on going to Rachel and asking for her forgiveness. He had overcome so much in his life, he could face his demons for her. Face them with her.