Through my limited life experience I have learned to build a fortress around a zen garden where my heart is kept. Walls built to withstand just about anything to keep my heart safe and at peace.

My ears are like a forest of trees listening for curious trespassers seeking treasure. My eyes, the soldiers watching tirelessly for those outside who wish to enter or destroy my garden. My mouth, the alarm that sounds when my fortress is threatened.

And my heart.

My heart is like a child. Both beautiful and sacred, but also naive and fragile. But my mind is like a queen who fights endlessly to protect what's hers. Both wise and noble, but also guarded and skeptical.

Many people see the beauty and light of the fortress I've built, and my heart protected within it, but only few have gotten to touch it, and even fewer have held it.

Like an ancient artifact, there are small intricate details, hand crafted by the Creator, designed to be genuine and unique, created with the intentions of being seen by many, but only held by a few.

To be the handler of my heart takes a noble man.

A man whose heart was hand crafted by the Creator with small intricate details, designed to be genuine and unique, created to be seen by many, but designed to be compatible with few.

A man who possesses wisdom and strength, but chooses compassion and grace. A man who practices humility and integrity, with a zealousness for the Creator of our hearts that surpasses any other desire.

A man whose heart shines brightly for others, but is kept safe for the few who cherish and understand how sacred it is to hold his heart.

When a man's heart and character reflect these things, it is only then my walls begin to come down, my eyes guard less frequently, my ears listen less intently, and my alarms become quiet.

A treasure is only valuable when it's properly cared for and never taken for granted.

I begin to trust the man in my fortress, and I depend on the noble man to care for it and keep the peace. He tends to my heart, breaks down my walls, and guards my fortress with me. And I, I do the same with him.

A noble man is hard to find, but a noble man will be a partner for life.