You are a marvelous, talented, good and deep person, Lex. Don’t settle for the almost-dream out of loneliness. We’ve all done so at times because of denial, but you are aware of what you do and don’t want, so hang onto the real dream until it becomes reality. And it will. I just don’t know exactly when, but hope it’s soon.

I love that you present another image of water. I was seeing a mountain stream formed from melting snow. I certainly thought about rapids while I was writing but the water cycle, I think, was the bigger picture.

Water is neither gentle nor tame; she appears so because she makes what she does look easy. Water bides her time; she wears away rock. Water also makes her own path. I am picturing falls, floods, rapids. Water breaks through ice and pushes everything forward in the rush to make, not greet, spring.