Five

Looking around the room, she saw many familiar faces and knew all their stories. Every few weeks a new person showed up, but understandably their stories were all the same, only the names changed to protect the innocent.

She was one of the old-timers. The group offered more than a place to unload her burden, it had become a family. She came back not only to share her own tale, but to also help the others in their transition.

Most looked to her as the de facto leader, often seeking her out over the actually administrator. With her life experiences, she understood better, having lived through it and having emerged whole and stable.

The program considered her its poster child, recruiting her out to speak to other similar groups, proving it could be done.

With all the newbies, the admin asked her to tell her story, to make them feel welcome, and give them hope for their reconciliation. Their lives were changing and it was often difficult to adjust to those changes, even when they were welcome and sought after changes.

Making her way to the front of the assembly, she accepted well-wishes and back slaps from the other long-term members.

“Today I’m five.” That declaration brought gasps even from other old-timers.

“That’s right, it’s been five cycles since the host brought me in. Five cycles for me to accept the beauty of the host and assimilate into my role within, and you too can find that same joy.”