You presented me with a gift. I received it delicately with both of my hands.

Boy, your hands are big, I thought. You're much taller than me, too!

"What is it?" I asked, pouting in confusion as any other five-year-old at the gift. "Who are you?" I inquired.

You smiled gently. "You'll come to know."

* * *

Time trickled by. Eleven years have past. I held the opened gift in my hands, waiting for you at the same spot we met long ago.

My hair falls softly down my shoulders; I don't have the short pig-tails anymore. I'm sure I'm nearly as tall as you, too.

Not as little now!

But ... would you still recognize me?

I saw you striding towards me with slow, steady steps. You had your head downed, a knowing smile on your face.

You lifted your head, and my face instantly breaks into a warm smile when I met your eyes.

"I opened the present," I said when you finally stopped in front of me.

You smiled - it was the same one I remembered. It was as if between our two meetings, no time had passed at all.

With an inclination of your head you indicated the delicate box, raising a curious eyebrow.

"The gift?" Oh, I'm still on a journey to discover what it truly is ... I still have much to learn. It's about you, and things that are so much bigger than I could have ever imagined.

"You'll stay with me?" I asked. I was afraid you wouldn't.

You looked at me, wondering for a moment.

"Always here," you answered with a smile.