This a moving revelation of yourself.

The one event that changed the course of my life was as an undergrad in college. I was falling into my own morass of doubt and self-loathing, of believing the shame taught to me by my very American rightwing fundamentalist evangelical upbringing. I was losing my faith. Losing myself. I wasn't becoming the monster I feared, but I was falling, fading. I felt like I was disappearing. I genuinely believe I would not be alive now if a then just made new friend in college – who is still to this day the sister of my heart – had not pulled me up, pulled me forward, and wouldn't let me be left behind. She refused to let me fall. Because of her, I found myself, created a path forward. Because she did that for me, I was able to become the person my husband of 30 years came to love. Because of that one person's impact on my life, I am with the man who is the father of my son, born to me at the age of forty (18 years ago).

All the true joy I've known in my life has been with my husband. I don't believe I'd have lived long enough to find my husband and build this life if not for the sister of my heart.