UNDERSTANDING SOMEONE TAKES MORE THAN WORDS., At 30, with seven years of experience in IT, I was asked to train a new group of employees. One of them, a bright and cheerful woman, stood out to me. We spent the next few months working closely, talking regularly since we were in different offices. I started speaking to her in a way that I thought would make her feel more comfortable since she was living far from home….
At 30, with seven years of experience in IT, I was asked to train a new group of employees. One of them, a bright and cheerful woman, stood out to me. We spent the next few months working closely, talking regularly since we were in different offices. I started speaking to her in a way that I thought would make her feel more comfortable since she was living far from home. Over time, I realized I was developing feelings for her, but I didn’t know how to express them.
One day, I visited her office after months of remote work, and I noticed how different it felt seeing her in person. There was a small incident where our manager spoke to her about her late arrivals, and she made a lighthearted joke. While I found it funny, I knew it wasn’t the best response to her lead. Later in a call, our team leader made a comment, and I could sense that she took it to heart. After the call ended, I checked on her, and to my surprise, her usually cheerful eyes were red with tears.
I wanted to comfort her, but before I could say anything, she came to my desk and spoke to me. She told me that it’s not about how many languages or experiences we have, but how we treat people. In that moment, I realized how deeply I cared for her. I regretted not being more supportive and thoughtful. Now, I can’t help but wonder if she felt the same way, and I wish I had handled things differently.
