July 1989

To Princess,

Your Presence

If only I could describe what your presence means to me. A physically bubbling, overwhelming sensation mixed with serene contentment, your presence means to me.

Your presence means to me, an addition to the whole; you more than simply satisfy, you are a pleasure to my soul

Although these words show feeling, they fall short of saying why. Perhaps, this once, the use of concrete, clumsy words deserves a try: Your presence means to me, an absence of lonely solitude; someone to air my problems to and show my weaker side.

Your presence means to me, the joy of sharing happiness; seeing the satisfaction of giving and helping someone smile.

Your presence means to me, the sharing of affection; letting down my defenses and showing that I want your touch.

Your presence means to me, the value of caring and empathy; knowing that someone, outside of me, values my life and is willing to endure my imperfections. Your presence means to me, self-discovery; improving upon, or at least accepting, those things I hid by avoiding close companionship.

Your presence means to me, the value of life; that it is worth preserving, despite its hardships.

All these things and more, your presence means to me.

And although you cannot be with me all the time; the time we are apart, makes the time we are together that much more special.