Gray After Dark

by Noelle W. Ihli

I knew better. All you had to do was catch her eye to see that fire blazing. The one that made sure I never missed an opportunity for travel that would help me train. The one that saved for better skis, warmer gear, better food, anything I needed, even if it meant overtime shift after overtime shift. She wasn’t a martyr, though. There was a joyful resilience about her.

“Opening your heart is messy,”

“Opening up your heart is messy—and risky. But keeping your heart spotless is risky too,”