It can come at you suddenly, the desire to trust another.

Maybe it’s the way their eyes smile while looking at you or the way they say all of the words you had hoped to hear.

More often than not, it’s the way they make you feel; safe, appreciated,desired, cared for.

But the world is a funny place and the gift of trust is not often accepted with the respect with which it’s given.  Through trial and error, we learn that the creation of such a “safe” atmosphere can be fueled by sincerity or manipulation, and when it’s the latter, the giver of the ultimate gift is too often left feeling a fool.

Certain people cannot hide their tender hearts as wolves hide their teeth.  They walk into situations blinded by their own projections.  “I am trustworthy, so they must be, too,”they say.  Their friends try to warn them as they run laps, past the red flags and the signs begging them to yield to logic and reason.

And finally, the cheering stops and they collapse.  Their hearts racing from the panic that comes when they discover they were oh, so wrong. Their feet cut by the pieces of their shattered ideals. Their eyes wet with frustration.

“I’m a fool,” they say to themselves.

“You’re a fool,” says the wolf.

“No, They’re the fool,” whispers the universe.