As I walked up to the front door, I saw a close friend coming right at me. I’m not sure she recognized me. We weren’t expected faces anymore. To see us at church was unusual now. But once she realized we were actually there, we hugged. And hugged. And hugged. The hug lasted way longer than normal and it was all I could do not to burst out in ugly tears before I even entered the doors of church. I was already coming completely unglued. After her, came more friends. These precious women, all of whom I have done life with for years and years, were hugging me together. I felt my whole body relax. Like I had been holding my breath for 200 days.