It was a cold fall night. Minda and Naomi were walking the paths of Central Park. It was quiet, and lonely, a feeling Naomi knew all too well. They usually used this time to have heart to hearts, maybe to talk about the day’s events on the way home. Naomi was usually cheerful at this time of night, but not this night, she seemed quite somber and quiet. “You wanna tell me what’s goin’ on Naomi?” Minda asked and Naomi trailed off “I don’t know Mins, I’m tired tonight…” Minda replied worried “I know you, and this isn’t you Naomi…”

Naomi couldn’t bring herself to say the words stopping in her tracks and finally said “I miss her so much…” as she fell on her knees; a single tear rolling down her cheek. This side of her was rarely seen, she always seemed so very strong and certain of life; but she also had a dark side, full of pain and sorrow. Only her truest friends knew of this side.

“Hey, chin up hun.” Minda said putting her finger under a sobbing Naomi’s chin lifting her eyes from the ground to her gaze. “I know you miss her… But crying about it ain’t gonna bring her back.” Minda gracefully chose her words. “Do you think your mother’d be happy to see you like this, on your knee’s and weeping for her sake?” Minda asked. “I knew your mom, and she’d never stand for this… ‘Stand up, brush yourself off, it’s gonna be okay.’ she’d say.”

Naomi looked Minda in her gentle eyes. “But I…” she tried to speak but was interrupted by Minda “No Naomi, you should cherish what you have now and not what you’ve lost. You’ve got a sister who looks up to you, who loves you a great deal. I’d hate to see you lose sight of what you DO have hun. Don’t throw it all away for what you have lost. There are people here, now, who care very deeply for you and wish the very best for you. Even in your circumstances I can see you triumphing. ‘Persevere in life, keep at it.’ Your mom used to say.”

Naomi stood up and brushed herself off. “Thanks Mins, I really dunno what I’d do without you.” she said and hugged Minda closely like a sister would. “Don’t you ever change.” “Don’t you stop believing in yourself, I know you can do it Naomi.” Minda replied feeling Naomi’s tears saturating her collar. “We should go get some sleep, maybe I should hang around a bit and make sure all’s well before I go home myself eh?” she added.

“That’d be really kind of you Minda.” Naomi finished.
“Hey, what are friends for?” Minda asked flashing a smile that really showed her kindness and understanding.