As I was reading the article, a lot of things and people came in my mind. There are a lot of people whom I owe. A lot of people whom I must forgive, and ask forgiveness from. But there is a certain person, the reason for some droplets of tears falling from my eyes. We shared a once beautiful and simply amazing friendship but then, at some point in time, things got rusty and eventually crumble down. That's what happened. And the same time the lyrics of The Fray's How to Save a Life suddenly popped in my head. "Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend somewhere along in the bitterness." In our situation, we are both wrong. I was hurt more, or so I thought. Aside for being too proud, I am also very insensitive. I always think that I am right and seldom think of other people's welfare. I cared less for what he feels, and that perhaps, is the reason for our major misunderstanding. This just proves that even though we are both wrong, what I did was worse. (I kind of realized this part a little bit too late.) After we fought, there was a 10-day interval before he started talking to me. Or rather, texting me again. He was the one to ask for forgiveness, although I think I was mainly at fault, and I just wasted that one chance for forgiving him. I was so stupid. Forgive the word, but it really describes me that time. I was still clouded by anger and frustration so my thoughts aren't clear. That time he still haven't showed me the other side of the coin, his side. But as he did, I was sobbing hard. Took me long enough to feel my mistakes. And I realized something. I miss him. The laughs we shared, the tears I shed for him and his for me. I miss how he makes me laugh all the time. I miss those happy times. And because of these selfish reasons, I wanted to forgive him and to ask him to forgive me, as well. Even though whatever we had before can't be fully restored, as long as the friendship is still there, it is fine by me. And yet there is still that proud part of my brain that does not want to agree with whatever I wish for. But then again, like love, forgiveness is a decision. If I want to, I can remove that proud part of mine because I do not like deciding things half-heartedly.

The last thing and yet the most significant realization or further knowledge that I acquired while reading the article is that forgiveness can lighten up everyone. The feeling of happiness that a person feels after forgiving someone or has asked forgiveness can influence other people, like how anger can affect others. If everyone can just start forgiving each other then the negativity or the poison in our hearts can be reduced or perhaps disperse. Proud, insensitive and not to mention pessimistic people like me will not bear the heavy burden of pain in our hearts anymore and perhaps live a more happier and stress-free and frustration-less life. Random as it may seem, it is just how everything appeared in my perspective.