gifted

I am with one of my most favourite people. We are heading out and she is doing my eyeliner. I start to tell her about how my mum used to tell me I had beautiful eyes.

(Other people may have complimented me about other stuff but my mum was the only one who ever noticed my eyes).

I suddenly have a lurching feeling that my lovely friend is going to agree: you do have beautiful eyes. I prepare to smile and cringe inwardly. Instead, she looks at me and says: you miss her.

I nod.

Some people are gifted. They know exactly what to say, at just the right moment.