Letter to a Stranger

I can’t remember your name

I can’t remember your face

But I will never forget

Our time together 

A few hours of my life

That altered my path 

A catalyst for change

The way you talked to me

As if 

You had all the time in the world

The way you looked in my eyes

As if 

I were the only person on the plane

The way you invited me to sit beside you

As if 

It were the only seat available

The way you lowered the drink tray for me

Anticipating my need

The way you hugged me goodbye

We both knew the time was special

You saw in me

More than I saw in myself

You knew

The potential I had inside

You showed me

How much more I could feel

You taught me

How much more I deserved

You reminded me

How much I had in store for my life

You admonished me

Not to wait too long

Change was imminent

The force was unleashed

The unknown was now known

The woman who stepped off the plane 

Was not the one who stepped onto it

And, after that brief ride,

Nothing would ever be the same

About the Author

Rebecca G. Feinberg. During the work week, Rebecca is the director of Foundation Relations at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation. She works with faculty, staff, and students to secure private funding for campus research programs and initiatives with particular focus on wellbeing.

As a writer, Rebecca previously published with the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. She finds the process of writing instrumental in processing her feelings and emotions, a way to connect through authenticity. Rebecca writes with the intention that her poems and essays allow readers to know that they are not alone in their experiences and that their voice deserves to be heard. 

Please welcome Rebecca into the safe space of Starry Starry Kite where her courageous and unique voice can be witnessed, heard, and valued.