To the friend I will always love:

You know how when your child was small and they’d keep trying to touch a hot surface? Every time you’d tell them no, they’d get their little heart broken because they didn’t understand why you were telling them no, just that you were. They’d keep trying to see if today was the day they could do it.

Eventually one day you had to stop telling them no because they stopped. Ever think about why they stopped? They knew they were always going to be told no. So they learned not to do it, not to touch the stove. They moved on to something else and stopped trying to touch the stove.

I’ve learned not to touch the stove. The day has come that you don’t need to tell me no any longer. I’ve heard you. I’ve listened to you.