There are times in our lives
     When all seems bleak, days seem a sentence, hearts remain bruised
          and broken,
The walls close in,
The light begins to wane,
And you ask the heavens if it will always be the same.

No answer is given, over days, weeks and months,
And then, without warning, your door opens and hope walks in.
Hope is a stranger, hope is a friend, hope is what allows you to rebuild your
     strength.

They don’t know it, YOU don’t know it.
It’s something to be wary of.
For you’ve both lived very cynical lives. Why open your heart?  Why drop those
     walls?
You both know how many times you’ve been burned before.
So everything between you is looked at with caution.
A distance is kept as you circle each other.

You never really know … it’s impossible to pinpoint… that exact moment
     that caution turns to trust,
You just know it’s a better day when they’re in it.
The sun shines brighter with their laughter ringing through it.
Smiles come easier – even at strangers.
Completely unbidden, and with surprise, you find yourself thinking that 
              You’re glad you’re alive.
The trust, hope and caring given to you by that ONE person who passed 
            Through your door,
It’s turned you around, it’s crumbled your walls, it’s left you with a smile 
           And a sparkle in your eyes.

That one person, that “survivor”, that person so like yourself.
They’ve survived as they have, I believe for a reason.
Because at some time in their life, they’ll find another, another like themself,            Who, for whatever reason, has somehow strayed from their path.
It doesn’t take much to recognize that trait, that strength that was there;
It’s easy to see where we’ve been, as though looking through a mirror.

The similarities are invisible to those without that insight. 
     No matter the explanation, they’ll never understand.
But we know the depths where we’ve dwelt,
We know depravity.
We know danger.
We know what price life can be set at just to survive one more night.
            Worse, we know just how low that price can be.

And fear.  We know fear so well, it has become a part of us now.
It lives and it breathes, and it NEVER leaves our minds. 
So when that person walks through your door,
The relief, the comfort, the confidence, the acceptance or simply the recognition,
Can be overwhelming.
Some would run, not trusting.
Some would stay, remaining the cynic,
And some of us might accept and gladly receive the unspoken offer, 
            Made by a stranger who knows us so well.  

I’ve chosen not to run, I’ve chosen not to disbelieve,
And I offer my thanks and gratitude to whoever brought you to my door.
For I believe in angels and guides,
     I believe in karma and fate,
And, you, you arrived not a moment too late.

You’ll always be welcome wherever I am – you’ll always be loved and 
      Forever in my thoughts.
And although I see no wings, I believe it to be true,
An angel you are,
     for you appeared in my life when I needed you most, 
And I remain thankful each day for having met and known you.
Even survivors need others at some point in their life,
And as you’ve stood for me, I’ll do the same for you.
And for walking through that door, for making me believe,
For giving me hope, and bringing me back from that edge,
Someday, somewhere, there will be someone,
And because of you, this time I will be the one,
      to walk through that open door.