‘The greatest gift a person can ever give someone or receive from someone is love. Why would you keep yourself away from this beautiful thing because of one empty shell of a person? Maybe that person came into your life just to teach you a lesson and nothing more. If you stick around with an empty person like that, it’s just like hoarding all those disposable plastic bottles thinking they’ll be of use some day. But they never are. You should always crush and throw the plastic bottles after use.’

‘But how will I ever trust someone again?’ I asked her.

‘Life is a circle. What goes around comes around. You’ll never be in the same state as you are in right now. Nor will he be. We’re constantly evolving. So, when love comes knocking at your door again, you’ll be ready to accept it with open arms,’ she told me. ‘Besides, every broken thing can be repaired. In Japan, there’s an art form called kintsugi, in which broken pieces of pottery are put back together with lacquer and precious metal dust to create something new. These repaired pieces of pottery are therefore considered far more valuable than absolutely new ones. Because your healing is your story, your healing is also your journey.’

‘How can you be so positive all the time? And how do you know exactly what to say?’ I asked. It felt like a huge burden had been taken off my chest.

‘Maybe because I’m an old lady now, and a school counsellor by profession?’ she responded with a laugh and winked.

‘Thank you, Aunt Mannie. You mean the world to me,’ I told her as I placed a soft kiss on her cheeks.

‘Now go to sleep.’ And with that, she left the room, gently shutting the door behind her.

It is because of Aunt Mannie that I have experienced the feeling of being loved. We all have that one person who understands us like no one else does. If we’re lucky, this could be either one of our parents. It could also be a sibling or a friend. And sometimes, we find that understanding, empathy and trust somewhere else. All I can say is that when you find that person, hold them close to your heart and never let them go. Because love comes not just from romantic partnerships but also from people whose steadfast presence in our lives stands the test of time.