An Unpleasant Experience

She walked from her car to the building which was about fifty feet away. As she walked she looked around for a familiar face, which she saw. The two of them exchanged a few words as she continued walking towards the building, the person didn't ask who she was visiting. She opened the large grey medal door not knowing what to expect once she was inside. She stood in line waiting for her turn. When she reached the front desk the woman asked the name of the person she was visiting while reaching for her identification. The woman then asked her to step back so her picture could be taken, as she thought, I won't be smiling for this one. There were four other visitors ahead of her. She was directed to the waiting area to sit and wait for them to complete their visits before she could see him. Not knowing exactly what that meant, being her first time ever, the woman explained there are only four visitors at a time allowed for each floor. While waiting she observed the environment around her. It was a busy place where people came day after day, waiting for hours during the visiting hours to see their friends or loved ones. After thirty minutes of waiting she had to leave and decided to return three hours later. Due to the first visit not being completed she had to take another picture. Again, there were four others ahead of her and after thirty minutes she had to leave for the second time without completing the visit.

As she began driving her car the reality of it all suddenly hit her. She just broke down, the tears wouldn't stop flowing, as she loudly repeated-"I can't do this", "I can't do this", knowing deep down inside she had to. She began asking herself why did he make her go through this. Of all the things he has made her go through, this was the worse. She begged for strength from the Man above, knowing this was something she had to do, at least once and be strong doing it. How would she be able to visit him and not embrace him? How could she stand seeing him in there? She dreaded this--the hardest and most painful part of the visit. What would they talk about? She realized she needed to compose herself as she was driving and becoming unaware of her destination.

She tried the next morning for the third time. This time there were also four others ahead of her and she didn't even sit down and wait, leaving again without completing the visit. At this point, she understood the process and decided to come back later in the afternoon prepared to wait for as long as it took; she wanted to see him that day. This time there were five others ahead of her. After an hour and thirty minutes, she was finally on her way to visit him. As she walked slowly down the long corridor to the elevator, she convinced herself to keep it together and thought about what they could discuss for those thirty minutes. She began walking a little faster, remembering the thirty minute time limit. After getting off the elevator she walked down a shorter corridor leading to the visiting area. There he sat waiting for his visitor not knowing who this visitor was. Unaware of the routine she sat down as he asked her to pick up the phone so they could talk. After wiping the phone off she put it to her ear and they talked for twenty-five minutes. It turned out to be a pleasant, but unpleasant visit. He was on her mind all week and it was comforting to see and talk to him. She handled the visit well until the last five minutes, she needed to leave so she wouldn't lose her composure. As they both stood up, he told her he loved her. She told him she loved him too, would continue praying for him, and she would visit every week.

Will she visit him again? Did she want to go through that waiting process again? She wasn't sure. If so, would it be every week? Could she stand seeing him that way--that often. Whether she decides to visit him again or not, she was satisfied knowing she went that one time. Although she told him many times before she would never visit him--she still did.