Brave One

She chose her name to be Ummwhatever. She didn't know what to choose when she signed up, so it seemed fitting.

She entered our class late, but we didn't mind. We asked if she wanted to introduce herself; she declined.

As we talked about getting the most out of our event, the roadblocks we all faced, and ways to move past them, she remained quiet.

It wasn't until the end that she spoke, when Scotty asked us about bravery.

When she spoke, she chose a quote to speak for her. I knew her words well.

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

"I can think of no better thing to say." Scotty ended the class right there. We all were moved.

She'd hitchhiked hundreds of miles to get here. She was staying with a friend she'd just reconnected with randomly. I looked at her in awe.

She was shy, anxious, intermittently rambling and quiet. We all took turns talking to her, squeezing her hand, giving her a hug.

I felt the need to protect her, look out for her, make sure she would be okay.

Scotty reached down to his belt, unsnapped a piece of leather, and handed it to her.

"In my family, you have to earn your leathers. You have more than earned this."

She accepted his gift, and then gave him a huge hug. I found myself tearing up, but I wouldn't let myself cry.

"It's okay," SherynB said to me, as she saw the droplets in my eyes. "You can cry."

And then I did. In her arms, I let it out. Afterwards, I felt better.

Because of that class, How To Get What You Want Out Of Shibaricon, I made a few new friends and met a truly brave person.