An unexpected cheerleader

When life has got me down, I've always found the most unexpected people help pick me back up. I'm not saying my close friends and family don't play that role. I guess I'm just always surprised when someone I don't purposefully turn to finds a way to make me feel better.

I was chatting online a few nights ago with my high school sweetheart (HSSH) -- the guy whom for four years I dated on and off (as high schoolers are wont to do). After that kind of history our relationship was doomed. He's married now, but we've stayed friends -- although I wouldn't say close friends. We talk once every blue moon or so, but he checked in on me the other night, knowing I'd been dumped.

An excerpt from the conversation:

HSSH: has the ex tried to talk to you?
MG: nope, thank God, he's left me alone
HSSH: that's good. you never know with that kinda crap what is going to happen
MG: i know. i'm more worried i'm going to run into him at a bar or at the grocery store or something. knoxville isn't that big
HSSH: true, but you'll be the bigger person when you do
MG: yep. i've tried to mentally prepare myself for it ..i know i'll be the better person in the long run ... right now it's just still getting used to just a different life and forcing myself to go out a little more with friends -- which you know is hard for me, i'm such a homebody
HSSH: haha, some things never change
HSSH: and he'll want you back whenever he sees you
MG: well, his loss then
HSSH: exactly, haha. now you get a chance to find what you want EXACTLY
MG: and that's what i plan to do

It's not so much the substance of the conversation that I found encouraging. It's the fact that after all these years my original ex-boyfriend is cheering me on.