You thought she was clueless. You were wrong.

She is the woman you work with that gives you a smile every time she passes by. She is the woman who will act as if she doesn’t hear you whispering about her in the halls. She’s the woman standing in line at the checkout counter who will allow you to cut in front of her with your full basket. She’s the woman who will go out of her way to help you, even though she knows you’ve intentionally wronged her. She is the woman who knows that you roll your eyes as she walks away. She keeps smiling.

She knows you don't like her.

She is not clueless, she is not scared.

She is learning.

She is the woman who doesn’t need a man by her side to feel secure. She will have a few close friends and others that come and go with the seasons. She gives until she has nothing left to give. She seems like an easy target, someone to take advantage of, to walk all over. You’re wrong.

In fact, she will permit you to mistreat her. She won't stand her ground. If you had the chance to become her friend, she will only tolerate your treachery to an extent. It won't be abrupt, you will simply become less of a priority to her, and in due time she will have tossed you aside without you even realizing. And she will be fine.

You see, she reads body language better than most people. She sees you glaring at her through her peripherals. She hears you quietly muttering her name. She’s aware of it all. She doesn’t want to hurt you. She won't approach you, or embarrass you, or even allow you to know that she's been watching.

Why?

Because you’re teaching her. You are the perfect example of who she never wants to be. So, she thanks you quietly.

This woman has been through hell and back. She has beat herself down further into a place than you could ever take her.

She also dug herself out.

She acknowledges her flaws, and now embraces them. She isn't the prettiest, or the smartest, or most popular, and she thrives off of that. She has learned from people like you over the years and has gathered up the courage to step out into the world with her experiences and her pride motivating her to become something bigger.

Therefore, she will continue to allow you to mistreat her, and cut her in line, and roll your eyes behind her back, because she is continuing to learn and grow. She knows what you’re doing. She simply has her eyes on a bigger prize, and you won't be able to stand in her way.

But I would watch out, because she’s just getting started.

Photo: Skye Lingenfelter (skyelingenfelter.wixsite.com/fallingskye)