99. Patience

"Patience is a Virtue"

She has long, thick, flowing red hair. She looks like she should have the halo and harp of an angel. Her voice is soft but not passive, rather more firm and gentle. She is a mediator and a nurturer.

She loves to cook, especially with the children Inside. She loves being with them.

She likes to be the first one up in the morning, if she goes to bed at all, getting breakfast ready for many of us, making sure everything is organized and ready to go. Sometimes others help her. The Controller (2), Old Self (2), Othel (1) ...

She mostly wears long dresses, like Belle (3) and Rebecca (1) but does not take them too seriously. She will quickly and eagerly hoist them up to show socks and bare legs to run with into the sometimes icy river below The Cocoon.

Patience will soothe a worried brow, hug an angry or hurt child, man or woman Inside. She will always reassure us with her words, as if she knows for sure what our future holds. She has no doubt anywhere in her. She believes in each and every one of us, in us together, in herself, in what happened to us, and in the fact that we will make it through with honours.

She loves warm glowing colours – the deep rich textures of orange, yellow and forest greens. She has helped decorate The Cocoon, helped put skylight windows wherever necessary to let in that plants, children and all life may grow. She is life itself.

She sings, no ... rather she hums, soft delicious angelic tunes. Cooing like a rock dove. A kettle steaming merrily. Yet she can rest easily, a child on her lap. Her face up close to the child’s soft face and murmur quietly the story from a book. A secret between the two. No one but mother and child can share. Though she is no mother to any of these children.

When she is finished with taking care of the house, the children and all of us, she steals quietly through the forest late at night to Old Self’s (2) cabin for their evening chat.

This is Patience.