Words when spoken, hearts once broken

This incident took place between three of my mother's friends. I am only a third party to this tale. I may not know all the 'glory' details but I think I know the essentials to string together the story.

We will call the three people 'J', 'K' and 'L'. J and L are family members but K is a family friend. J had been a migrant in an European country but came to live at their family home recently. L and her family had been residing there but they posed no objection. After all - we are family!

A few months swept by. Some gestures did not go easy on the other party. It started with a word or two but soon turned into a feud. J began relating her trouble to their friend, K, when she visited their place. K lent a sympathetic ear. She thought of a way out of this trouble. When J made a request, K had no excuse to refuse the deal. She and her son were the only ones living in their large ancestral home because her husband was abroad. They could use some company.

J and her mother moved in with K. They were like 'milk and honey' at the beginning. They went everywhere together and both helped each other in every way they could. J was a fun companion. She can be trusted and depended upon.

K felt that she can even leave the safety of the house in her hands. L was also relieved, especially because she got rid of J. She kept her distance but interacted with K whenever she met her. The hatred between the sisters-in-law seemed the have mellowed. They too exchanged pleasantries on the road and stopped by each other's places for brief spells. The dust has settled. Days rolled on.

What seemed to be a blessing in disguise became sour overtime. L who brought an accusation and much to K's dismay, J took L's side. Hurtful words were spoken. Gone were the happy times. At last J moved back in with her bother and sister-in-law. She cut off all contact with K.

Time heals. J, K and L have started to talk to each other again but the memory of the past incident will haunt K for a long time. She did not mean any harm. She just wanted to help her friend. Maybe she should have realized that 'blood is thicker than water'.

I am sure many of you will recall similar happenings from the past. Some of you must be trending similar grounds this instance. The 'what if' question nags our mind but what is done cannot be undone. True. Maybe you should have thought twice about your actions. People have a tendency to misunderstand and misinterpret. However there are times when you can console yourself that you took the best step at the time but your actions are still misjudged. It is human to err. Let bygones be bygones. This is what happened in K's case.

This story made me reflect on some lines that a school friend jotted on my autograph. I rummaged through my drawer and found the dog-eared copy.

Words and hearts should be handled with care,
Because words once spoken,
And hearts once broken
Are the hardest things to repair.

Shehara

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