“the man of my dreams has almost faded, now — the one i have created in my mind. the sort of man each woman dreams of in the deepest, most secret reaches of her heart. i can almost see him now before me. what would i say to him, if he were really here? ‘forgive me; i’ve never known this feeling. i’ve lived without it all my life. is it any wonder, then, that i failed to recognize you? you, who brought it to me for the first time. is there any way that i can tell you how my life has changed? any way at all to let you know what sweetness you have given me? there’s so much to say, i cannot find the words, except for these: i love you.’ such i would say to him if he were really here.”
