In the midst of all this action, all this life being refined and purified, I still think about her despite the knowledge that I haven't had an impact on her life. I keep reassessing what it is that I take away from this, and all previous experiences, and sitting here in this cold apartment with a warm cat in my lap, and I've come upon a quiet little thought. Love is too valuable and precious to be discarded. If she didn't want it...if no one before her wanted it...the important thing I have to understand is that I felt it, and still do. It's my own private thing. It doesn't have anything to do with rejection or a missed opportunity. Love has nothing to do with regret.

So I move on.

I go from here with wonder and curiosity, some of my innocence still intact, and a heart that will continue to love far too much for people to understand. I begin life here as I write this, and begin life here again knowing I will make more mistakes for lack of compromise. I begin life here yet again thinking of those I've left behind but taken a piece of with me.

And life begins here, with me dreaming of that magical possibility of someone...not just anyone...the very next someone...coming along to inspire me...and rescue me from all of those yesterdays. The quiet little flame of love still burns inside.

Regardless of what anyone does, even those who reject me so completely and take everything that has happened before away, I have that little flame to go on...and with that, life begins here.