Precious People

The Internet has brought relationships into a new light. People meet "online" and over the years develop a closeness that was once reserved for best friends, or possibly close siblings. Trust grows over that time and stories are shared until it is possible to feel you know each other inside and out, yet you've never walked on the same beach at the same time, or shared a meal at the same table and you probably never will.

It is almost like having an imaginary friend even though we are grown up. Here is someone who will listen to dreams, or share fantasies, even be told of indiscretions that may have happened without recriminations. In fact, here is someone it is possible to fantasize about and who always does what they are expected to do, because there are no physical complications. And yet, there is a richness and satisfaction that goes beyond real imaginary friends, because, in fact, this person, actually both people, are real.

It is not a replacement for real people in real life. They both have their own places in this world. It is just an additional relationship, a kindred spirit, who becomes that perfect personality whose ideas and values and desires seem so similar that the word soul-mates comes to mind.

If you happen to be one of those fortunate people who discover something like this, you realize that it is precious beyond understanding.