Emerging Courageous Online Magazine – Stories

 "It's Okay!" By Bob Perks
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I hate spot quizzes.  I never liked taking tests.  But I passed one without really knowing it.

I was in the Navy based in Newport, Rhode Island, what seems to be a lifetime ago.  We lived about a block away from the famous Cliff Walks, which take you along the rocky coast and behind some of the most elaborate mansions in the world.

I spent many long hours near the ocean.  It's my favorite place on Earth.  It's the only place I know of where you can turn your back on the world.

Try it.  Stand on the very edge of the water until your peripheral view only permits you to see the ocean in front of you.  That feeling of having the world, my life behind me, is sometimes overwhelming, sometimes very refreshing.

But this particular day I was about to see the world quite differently.

The road I lived on ended at the Cliff Walks, where the famous 40 steps are located.  They lead from the edge of the jagged walkway down to the rocks below.  A railing at the end encircles a small platform where visitors stand to see the majesty of the ocean as it smashes against the rocks.

The heave and flow of the water rocks one's soul into a gentle state of peace and comfort.  Except on storming days.  Then, only the brave or foolish would stand there.

You could, in fact, climb over the railing on good days, and stand or sit on the ledge.  Most people didn't. 

But she did. 

This young lady with the world on her shoulders, sat close enough to be seen by anyone standing on the platform, but far enough away to be by herself.

The waves that day weren't particularly rough, but on occasion one would slam against the rocks spraying her. 

She never moved. 

Sometimes the salty mist of the ocean tastes good on one's lips on a hot day, but she was getting soaked.

Normally I would have spent a few minutes there and moved on, but she concerned me.  I stayed longer than usual, glancing her way occasionally.

The ocean had suddenly calmed down.  The rolling water gently lapped against the rocks she was sitting on.  It was then that I could hear her crying.

There is nothing sadder than to see someone crying alone.  I climbed over the railing and walked slowly toward her.  Upon my approach she nervously sat up and wiped her face with the sleeve of her sweatshirt.

"Great place to get wet!" I said.

She didn't reply.

"Is everything all right?" I asked.

"It should be...but no, it's not!" she said.

Keeping a distance between us so as not to make her feel uncomfortable, I spoke to her.  With the most reassuring words, I offered to listen if she'd like to talk about what was wrong.

Never revealing the whole story, she told me she just lost her best friend.  She had died in an accident somewhere up the coast.  It was a horrible ordeal.  

It would have been her birthday that day.

"You know I've been sitting here for most of the day.  No one took the time to check on me.  No one said a word to me.  I could have been planning to jump in the ocean and not one person cared...except for you," she said.

"I don't believe this was a miracle I stopped here or some heavenly intervention.  I come here often.  But I saw it as a responsibility as another human being to see if I could help.  It's what we should do.  No one
should grieve alone," I told her.

"You passed the test," she said.

"A test?  I always hated tests," I said laughing.

"I was determined to sit here until my friend sent someone to speak to me. I've been mad at her since...she left," she said.

"I came here early today and told her straight out, "You better speak to me again!  I'm not leaving here until you tell me it's okay."

"It's okay!" I said.

She cried.  I helped her over to the platform and walked her to the top of the steps.

I sighed as I watched her get in her car and drive away.  She got what she needed and I passed the test.  She was desperately seeking someone to tell
her "It's okay!"     

I was just passing by your life today and something told me to stop and speak to you.  Whatever you may be going through right now, my friend.  I wrote this story to tell you..."It's Okay!"

"I believe in you!"

Bob Perks

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Copyright (c) 2003, Bob Perks.  I encourage you to share my stories with your friends but, when copying I ask that you keep my name and contact information attached along with this notice.  Use of this story for commercial purposes is prohibited without direct permission from the author.

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