{a short description of a friend}

He embodied some of her favourite qualities in a person. Most striking to her was the air of tranquility about him, of a certain innate stillness; that his temper could not easily be stirred, and that he met everything in life with calm acceptance. Perhaps he was a man of passions, but it did not seem in his nature to become violently passionate. He had a kind and relaxed face which was always ready to smile. His voice was deep, but never raised; on the contrary, he was quiet rather than loud, and confident rather than arrogant – even when he preached.

The way he pronounced her name – with his thick accent – and his unfailing attempts at speaking a second language fluently, she found endearing. He was extremely polite towards her, but not to the point of coldness: she felt rather well looked after and cared for by him. It was his sense of duty that made him go out of his way, and therefore, helping and serving her was a pleasure, and not a burden. He complimented her, but not to flirt or to be complimented back; only because he meant it.

So she accepted graciously whatever he said or did, because she felt him to be genuine in words and actions. She replied with the same genuine politeness, and their conversation, despite simple, was somehow a memorable one, imbued with grace and the unique warmth that exists when two souls deeply respect, appreciate and even mirror each other.