It was a scary moment... walking into a group of people who've already had time to get to know each other, to create memories and inside jokes. I felt like an outsider, a stranger, and that familiar loneliness crept in.
But now, it's my choice.
I can stay on the outside if I close myself off, if I give in to the urge to retreat. Or, I can open up, listen, learn, and allow myself to be vulnerable. They've shown me warmth, they're open-hearted and willing to accept me... I just have to let them. Maybe, just maybe, I can find a place here by sharing a little more of myself.