It was the end of the funeral.

Suddenly I noticed one woman who lagged behind the other relatives. She was standing by the grave and tears were streaming down her face.

I knew she could not have been a sister of the deceased and therefore I was surprised by her copious tears. I hesitantly approached her. “Can I help you?” I awkwardly asked. “Was this your good friend?”

“It’s too late now; too late.”

“What do you mean?”

The woman looked up at me. Then she haltingly told me the following:

“Chaya the woman who passed away was my next-door neighbor for almost 20 years. For many years we were very close. In fact we were inseparable. We were more like sisters than neighbors. We went to lunch together every week and constantly spoke on the phone. As time moved on our families grew and so did our obligations to them. Eventually my family moved away from the block; however Chaya and I still tried to always be in touch through phone calls and occasional visits.

“Then it happened.

“Chaya’s daughter was graduating from high school. I knew she only had a few tickets and couldn’t invite everyone. However when she didn’t invite me I was hurt. I thought She invited other neighbors from the block. Why did she leave me out?

“And then I did something I’ll regret my entire life.

“Instead of just working it out with Chaya I complained to our mutual friend Esti who had nothing do with it. I told Esti I thought it was wrong that Chaya hadn’t invited me.

Of course Esti then told Chaya what I’d said and Chaya told her husband. Soon what should have been a big nothing became a big deal. Everyone in both our families got involved and everyone had their opinion.

“Finally after a few weeks of this it was Chaya who called in tears. Without any excuses she simply said ‘I’m really sorry. I never meant any harm; it was just an oversight. Please forgive me. I promise I never meant you any harm.’

“Her tears were real and her feelings were sincere and they penetrated deep into my heart. I realized I’d been wrong in assuming she’d meant any harm and I was especially wrong in going to Esti. What should have been quietly worked out between us had led to a family feud.

“Of course we forgave each other and from that time on we always made sure to include the other in every simchah. However things were never the same. The relationship was strained and although we promised each other that all was forgiven and forgotten we never again regained the pristine love and appreciation we’d had toward each other. The relationship was perhaps as best as could be expected. However it was never the way it once was and for that I cry.

“I cry for all of the years of the relationship we could have had and missed out on. And I cry for the fact that one silly impulsive comment soured 25 years of friendship. As I stand here today I’m recalling what could have been and now will never be.”

I nodded to her and slowly walked to my car.

There I turned and saw her continue to cry at the grave of a friend she had lost 25 years before.