I don’t remember walking into the restaurant—I just needed to sit, somewhere with no questions. My hands were shaking, and I spilled half my drink. I must’ve looked a mess—makeup smudged, hair tangled, coat half-zipped. I couldn’t touch my food.
Then she walked in. She noticed me right away and sat down without hesitation. No questions. She just wrapped her arms around me. And I broke.
I cried like I was seven again, and the world had cracked open. She held on—no awkwardness, no rush. Just patience.
Later, I realized I knew her—she was my RA in college. The one who left me a sticky note that said, “You matter more than you think.”
Before I could ask how she found me, she whispered, “I know where you hurt.” Those words cut through my despair like a knife. “How did you know?” I asked.
“Sometimes, you don’t need to know how. You just need to be there,” she said.
We spent hours talking. I shared everything—fights, deadlines, the feeling of failure. She just listened.
Over the next weeks, Mariam became my anchor. She didn’t try to fix anything, but she was always there.
One day, I asked her about her own struggles. She shared her story—caring for her sick mother. She taught me that sometimes the best thing is just offering your presence.
But then Mariam told me she was leaving to help a community after a disaster. “You don’t need me anymore. You have your own strength now.”
She gave me one last hug. “Remember, you matter more than you think.”
Mariam left a void but also a gift. She taught me the power of presence and vulnerability. Sometimes, the most profound kindness is just showing up.
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