But I am positive that you can be bold about responding in love, I am positive that power will come to you if you allow yourself to be weak in that way. It may not be full DB but you are not at that stage anymore. Your W needs your vulnerability, your love and your protection. Even if she stomps on it again. That's okay. This is between you and God, not you and W. You don't have to get crazy with declarations of love, but be bold and brave, don't let fear of the consequences drive you.
I am an outsider in your conversation here, but I have to jump in and disagree, sorry Gerda. This is hope talking and I am not sure it is necessarily good for Gordie nor for his W for him to, as they say, drive ahead of his headlights. He did respond when she said it, he did not hold out. Reading his story reserve is not only called for, but downright REQUIRED. Not to say this is not positive, nor that it won't end positively. But right now, from his own description, this is very early tender shoots of something new.
I go back to what everyone says: this is like starting a brand new relationship. Would you jump into declaring your love full force with someone new at the very beginning? Or would that be out of scope and a little frightening.
Gordie, imho, is doing great. Its a hard task to walk that delicate line and he is like a master tight rope walker, not falling while also juggling a couple of cats!
