Thursday night I talked on the phone to my friend, and she said that she’s feeling good enough for a visit. Thursday night I had a dream that I can’t recall the details of, but it involved her, and we were consciously making an effort to be as close to each other as possible. We would walk in various places, slowly, with one of our hands on the other’s back or shoulder. We would sit somewhere, either to rest or to admire a particular view, and our legs touched because we sat so close and turned toward each other. It was a very beautiful dream, and much more based in reality, in a way that the vast majority of my dreams are not.

I went to visit her last night. After a long hug, we sat and held hands for two hours. We talked about big things and small things, sad things and funny things. We talked a lot about this experience. She had some questions, and so did I. I tried to limit the discussion about my own shock and pain, because I didn’t want to distress her further. There will be plenty of time for that discussion in the future. She seems to be making good progress, but she’ll be there for a while. I’m going to visit her again tonight.