Goodbye, my friend.

It is with a sense of loss that I wish you a fond farewell. Your husband has taken a new job in a distant state, and, as he is a wise and sane man, is taking you with him. There are 'people' who will mistake my feelings as some sort of crush. They are... misinformed by their prejudices.

I don't have a crush on you. And when I say that my feelings for you run deeper than that, I don't mean in a sense that these 'people' are familiar with. They are simple beasts, unable to comprehend the idea of a man having feelings of a positive, yet non-amorous nature, for a woman like you. If I say that I like you, they assume it is in the fashion that most men 'like' women.

They, like me, can see that you have beauty. But sadly, that seems to be all they see, so it is the only motivation they could ascribe to my feelings for you. They do not see the warmth within you, that spark of kindness, decency, and genuine Goodness, that inspires you to show kindness to those whom you have no reason to be kind to, such as yours truly. I can not benefit you in any way, and yet you offer friendship without strings.

I don't know what religion you practice (or whether you practice a religion), but you are truly a daughter of Christ. And it is in that bond of sisterhood and brotherhood that my feelings for you spring. You are your husband's wife, and I have no aspirations in that direction. But I will miss you sorely when you leave, because the warmth you've shone on me, and everyone around you, is a rare and precious gift.

Beauty. The word is an obscenity the way they use it. If they had eyes to see, your real beauty would stun them. And my world will get a litte darker now.

And to put it in words they might grasp: Man it sucks to lose a friend.