The Teachings of Chloe

By 2007, Willow had long ago thrown away all evidence of her past relationship with Chloe Hemingway. But the memories of their union stuck with her. At first, she thought it was the perfect relationship and like many people, once something like that has been found it is interpreted as the real thing.

It wasn't until recently that Willow understood the significance of it all. She met her friend, Dru, at Barnes and Noble Café for coffee and a time to 'catch up' on life in general. Somehow they got onto the subject, Willow felt like purging.

"I think I finally understand why the relationship with Chloe happened," Willow said as she looked out the huge windows from the café at the parking lot and people moving all over the place.

"Why?" Dru asked.

"To teach me something...not just about romance though. Not just about love in the sense of a couple, but self-love."

"Hmmm...interesting...self-love...okay," Dru gazed at Willow searching for more explanation. Obviously, she was curious, because she wasn't quite sure where Willow was going with this one.

"Yeah...self-love. Chloe carried herself with confidence. She understood exactly who she was and she walked in that truth every single day. And I'm sure she's still doing that now. She wasn't afraid to be herself. She wasn't afraid of what others thought about her. She came into my life to teach me how to do that because 'the powers that be' knew that one day I'd have to stand in my own truth, once I realized what it was," Willow said.

"And what is it?" Dru sipped her Spiced Chai Tea.

"What's what?" Willow lost in her thoughts.

"What's your truth?"

Willow took a moment to sip some of her brewed coffee - half caffeine/half decaf. As the extremely strong blend trickled down her throat, she finally found the words to say. "I am who I am. I am a writer. I am a spiritual being having a human experience. I am a woman who is attracted to other women. I am a lot of things," she took another sip of coffee. Whenever Willow felt philosophical she started to talk like it too. Each word would come pouring out of her mouth like a well-crafted sermon, but in fact would be off the top of head and straight from her heart...not bad for a woman who as a child would speak so softly, anyone who called the house could barely hear her.

"What's your truth, Dru?"

"Oh my God!" Dru laughed. "Willow, I really don't feel like going that deep right now?" She continued to laugh and took another sip of chai.

"Oops! That's cool," Willow laughed too.

Her mind drifted for a moment as they laughed at Dru's successful dodging of a deep soul-searching question. Chloe lived her truth without fear. Willow finally got it. While the relationship itself was nice - although, it was a distance relationship. They'd met online in Autumn of 1997 and broke up Summer of 1998. They didn't even make it a whole year, but it was long enough for Willow to experience something good for once.

An angel whispered into Willow's ear, "Remember who you are...walk in that truth. It's okay to be you."

Easier said than done, Willow thought. How can I be spiritual and like women? I thought that was a sin.

She didn't get an answer back to that one. Perhaps, this was one of those lessons she needed to learn. Oh how she loved those lessons.

"You okay," Dru inquired.

"Yeah, I was just thinking."

"About..."

"What we were talking about a few moments ago. That's all," Willow sipped some more coffee. "I have to get me a cinnamon scone. You want anything?"

"No, I'm good," Dru smiled.

"Be right back," Willow dashed to the counter. She laughed to herself. The very first time she had Starbuck's coffee was in New Jersey with Chloe during their second visit at Christmas time.

"Walk in your truth," a voice said.