Raymond hadn't phoned anyone or asked an outside agency to intervene. He'd elected to look after me himself. I'd been pondering this, and concluded that there must be some people for whom difficult behavior wasn't a reason to end their relationship with you. If they liked you-and, I remembered, Raymond and I had agreed that we were pals now-then, it seemed, they were prepared to maintain contact, even if you were sad, or upset, or behaving in very challenging ways. This was something of a revelation.
Raymond decided to take care of me personally rather than involving anyone else, which led me to reflect on the nature of relationships. It became clear that some people choose to stay connected, despite challenging behaviors or emotional difficulties. This realization was significant, as it highlighted that true friendship can withstand tough times.
As I recalled my developing friendship with Raymond, I understood that our bond was strong enough to endure my ups and downs. The fact that he maintained our connection, even when I was at my worst, was an eye-opening experience for me. It showed me that real affection and friendship involve patience and commitment, regardless of life's challenges.
