from Stones from the River

The context of this passage is an outdoor piano concert given for the children of this small town.


A hand- Eva's hand - touched her hair, drew the fear from her heart. Fingers twirled the ends of Trudi's pigtails to form curls, combed through them as if no one else were there. Mute with sudden bliss, Trudi glanced at her friend, but Eva's eyes were on the pianist as though unaware of the gift she was bestowing, and Trudi understood that the love she felt meant far more to her than to Eva. Already she sensed that this was love at its purest. She tilted her head, glad that her hair was beautiful as its fine, thick texture grazed her neck and slid through Eva's fingers. The scent of fresh grass and ancient lilac bushes was overpowering, and she wanted to cry when Eva took her hand away, but it felt as though the music continued to touch her hair.

- from Stones from the River, by Ursula Hegi

I like that passage. Trudi is a little girl who is a dwarf, so it's difficult for her to make friends. Eva is only her friend outside of school. I like this passage because I understand that ''love at its purest''. I think it's one of the best things that can happen to you. It's divine and wonderful and everyone should get to feel it. I'm sure many people do fortunately. That's when I feel thankful to God. Which is weird because in many ways I don't even know if I believe in God. But when I think of love like that I do. It's hard not to. It's funny how often the best things are really the simplest things, the most natural things.