this morning #2201.

this morning, my words dripped out of my mouth & landed at her feet in a sad puddle of mumbles. “PLEASE SPEAK UP,” she shrieked. while i could understand her irritation with the way i was relaying my message, her acerbic tone made me want to curl up even further. i was still searching for a gracious way to say what i had to say. how do you tell somebody that they’re no longer welcome in a way that doesn’t come off as an attack? i reached back into my reserves. just as she was ready to repeat her shrieking, i summoned up the courage to trust my gut. went with the first words that came to me. “look. i care about you. i truly do. i just can’t have you around me right now.” i’d actually said it. sweet relief. she stood up & with a flurry of verbal violence, turned & walked away.