There were two.

Both were still on the long gruelling road to recovery and discovery of what God had in store (if indeed He still had a plan for them). Both were broken, but in different places; hurt, but in different ways. Both in need of great amounts of love to smooth over the cracks laid deep in them. Both still trying, with all they knew, to be good. Both still undeniably beautiful.

Yet another who was apart of both and quite unharmed chose not to love them the way love would have it. In fact, this other could hardly consider her relationship with both, a friendship, as she looked dutifully upon these ties as obligations. The other's impatient sighs went often unnoticed, but her heart, her heart was cold; it was biased and knew all too well how to love conditionally.

This other was, yesterday, humbled and given light reprimand. But the weight of her humiliation lay in the reveal that she had been a counter-productively poor representation of a loving God. And was sorry. She was learning how to love, through idiot mistakes and hoped her failings would never be at the expense of those who couldn't afford it.

i
am
so
sorry.
God you are gracious.
There were two.
I love you both.
Then,
there were three.