Threads of Gold

It came like the softest whisper, the way so many important things tend to.

She was curled up on the couch, watching another episode of her favorite show, the sun slowly edging down on the horizon after a long day. Her phone lay beside her, quiet as usual. No notifications, just a dark screen. She glanced to the silent device, trying to recall when she had received a text last.

Eyes drifting back up to the television, out of nowhere a name drifted into her mind. A soft nudge, like a shoulder brushing against her. "You should text her," it seemed to say.

It hadn't been that long since she had reached out to her friend Dianne, maybe a few weeks. They weren't the 'everyday' texting type of friends. Life fills up the spaces with all of it's much louder demands, responsibilities and quiet assumption that there would always be time later. Before you know it, weeks and often months skirt by.

The episode on the screen had ended and before the next episode rolled onto the screen she paused the show. She picked up her phone and unlocked the screen.

Her thumb hovered over the smooth glass, she hesitated as if the moment required more weight than it deserved. What would she even say? She had no news, no updates to share. She locked the screen and set the phone down again.

Still, the internal nudge with her name pressed again as she reached for the television remote. "Dianne."

Resolved she grasped her phone, unlocked the screen and went to her messages.

"Hey, I hope this finds you well! You popped into my head, so I wanted to reach out, say hi and let you know how much I appreciate our friendship."

She stared at the message a moment. It felt a little silly, and simple - probably laughable and too small to really matter. She hit send anyway, set down her phone starting the next episode.

The reply came faster than she expected. Her phone lighting up with the delivery of a new message.

"I can't believe you texted me. I was just sitting here . . . crying. Today is the one-year anniversary of my dad's passing, I didn't realize how much I really needed to hear from someone, especially you - until your message came through."

She read the text twice, then a third time.

The room still looked the same, her show droned on in the background. Something however, had changed-something invisible and warm, spreading through her like thick threads of gold.

She typed back. "I'm always here if you need anything, what can I do for you? Would you like to talk about it?"

They exchanged several more messages. Nothing dramatic. Conversation shifted to life and the day-to-day things that come at you. Her show forgotten in the background, she made plans with her friend to get a coffee in a few days together.

"Thank you again for reaching out. I would have been fine, but this was much easier to process everything and move on with you on the other end of the phone."

She sat on the couch, the episode going in the background. Silver lined her eyes as she acknowledged the nudge she had received. Grateful that she had listened to it. A small, albeit impactful, win to the end of her otherwise average day.

No one else would ever know it happened. There would be no celebration, no milestone. She didn't need any of that. Her heart was full knowing that her friend felt the love she has for her, and felt less alone during a difficult time. All it required, was listening to that quiet voice... and sending one simple text.