The Lake of Forgiveness

She stands before the lake and her eyes take in the shimmer of the sun reflecting on the water that moves gracefully like a dancer lost in thought, taking elegant steps in a slow dance. She turns her gaze towards the mountains that hug its waters and lifts her head, her chin high, feeling the day's warmth wrap around her body. She closes her eyes and inhales. The air is clean, and it fills her lungs with a sense of renewal. Something in the water makes a splash and she opens her eyes to catch the visitor but only sees ripples left behind.

She is alone and is relieved. The stillness blends seamlessly with the sounds of nature. Birds singing, a rustle in the blades of grass, leaves that brush against each other, whispers in the breeze if she allows herself to hear them. She doesn’t take for granted the privacy she has been granted and is aware she could be interrupted at any time. After all, it’s a public park and she is sure there is another soul just like hers looking for the same serenity she seeks for just a few moments in time.

She has come to the lake today to ask for forgiveness. This is a ceremonious act she intentionally chose to close a chapter in her life that she has long spent time working on. She now understands her own story, one that was written by not just her but others too. Some she had invited to co-author and others, she had not. Like most people, she didn’t choose every part of her story, and how she entered into each chapter, one after the other, was often impacted by the closing statements of the one before. She always wondered why she was never taught how to successfully re-write her history, but she now knows there is no such thing. One can only alter the text of their future, not their past. And she was determined to read a version of her story that included some form of a happy ending.

Her self-discovery had not come easy, and it had not come without missteps along the way. Her ups and downs, her awakeness and slumber, her desires and disappointments, all came in waves in both solitude and companionship. She was supported by her own strength and the strength of others. She had stripped herself apart, revisited every memory, felt every infliction of pain, and surveyed every inch of her skin. She had stood under a metaphorical spotlight and allowed herself to ache and, in return, had basked in the magnificent release of contentment.

Today, she stands on the banks with solid footing and intentional thoughts. She already knows her request for forgiveness will be granted, as she has already forgiven herself. She smiles at how far she has come as she takes off her shoes and softly walks into the shallows. She knows if she were to keep walking into the depths of the lake, she would float now. The weight has been lifted.

She feels calm and certain. Her future isn’t known in its entirety, but she is ready.

The end.