In His Presence

I probably admire each of my friends, but I have a handful of friends in particular who I really esteem. One in particular is a survivor of many hardships who thrives. I revere her outlook on life.  Whenever given a choice about how to feel, she chooses happiness. Her perception of things is usually optimistic.  In the presence of colleagues and peers, she shines. I often think of her as a hardy flower: beautiful, yet strong and enduring. She is by no means perfect, but fragility is not one of her flaws.  The first time I saw her interact with her husband, I was dumbfounded that she seemed to wilt in his presence. I never mentioned this to her, of course. As our friendship progressed, she eventually confided in me about his poor treatment of her.  Although she was the last woman I would ever imagine being a victim of abuse, she actually was. There is no single type of victim when it comes to domestic violence.