Because of what you said

This months blog chain assignment.

This month's prompt:
Second Chances

Again, go wherever the prompt takes you. It can be fiction or non-fiction; the second chance in question can be a mushy valentine or a 1-up in Super Mario (or anything in between).

Long ago I was given a clear message by a total stranger. I think of her more and more as the years go by and wonder if she has any idea how she impacted my life. I don't think she does. I write about it often, this is my short and sweet version:

_____________________________________

It’s been at least 30 years since last we spoke, your face has faded in my memory. Did you have short brown hair? I think you did. I would not be able to pick you out in a crowd and I don’t know your name. But I would like to thank you because of what you said.

When I found you sitting on the windowsill at the top of the stairs you told me you had to rest and asked me to join you. Out the window the sun was shining at it’s brightest just before it set. I had the choice to squint into it or look down the dark stairwell. But then you began to speak, drawing my attention to you, having me look neither left or right but straight ahead. That was why I was there, to listen to what you had to say. Because sometimes when we are young a stranger will tell you things you already know but they can find the crack in the wall you’ve put up to ignore those that love you.

My life was going in the wrong direction and I didn’t think I had the strength to stop it. The words of your journey mirrored mine, you couldn’t have been much older than me but you had made the mistake I was about to make. I don’t know what brought us together that day but because of what you said, you change my life.

More second chances to read!
Participants and posts:
Turndog-Millionaire - http://turndog-millionaire.com/ (link to this month's post)
orion_mk3 - http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com (link to this month's post)
Ralph Pines - http://ralfast.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
magicmint - http://www.loneswing.com/ (link to this month's post)
Tomspy77 - http://thomaswillamspychalski.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
LilGreenBookworm - http://themayhemofwritingsahm-style.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
LiterateParakeet - http://lesliesillusions.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
AFord - http://af12.webs.com/ (link to this month's post)
writingismypassion - http://charityfaye.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
Bogna - http://bemaslanka.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
kiwiviktor81 - http://storygenerator.net/ (link to this month's post)
randi.lee - http://emotionalnovel.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
These Mean Streets - http://ohno-anotherwritingblog.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
areteus - http://lurkingmusings.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
Domoviye - http://living-working-in-china.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
pyrosama - http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
SuzanneSeese - http://www.viewofsue.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
julzperri - http://www.fishandfrivolity.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
Nissie - http://www.paperheroes.net/ (link to this month's post)
in_one - http://quirkythomas.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
sambgood - http://www.samanthabagood.com/ (link to this month's post)