She's mostly timid and shy, but above all else she wants to serve. To be helpful, useful, productive and simply genuinely happy. So I let her.
I watch her as she pretends to be busy checking her mail outside her door as I walk down the hall towards my door. I saw her look out the corner of her eye to see if it was me coming and I saw when she started to breathe a little heavier when she did notice it was me. I can feel how desperate she is to talk to me, to get a my attention, to have my eyes on her.
I continue on my way towards my door but in reality I'm aiming for her and her little plan to stop me in the hall, her attempt to make small talk. All so I can see and feel her desperation up close.
We play our little game of small talk. Her pretend shock of expression to see me, while I know she's actually been waiting her for me the whole time. She's shy and timid this I know and yet she built up courage to have a encounter with me and only me. This I highly respect and take notice of.
"Yes, I do need a few things actually". She did offer and since she has shown such great courage, I should allow her to. I'll give her what she's desperate for, all while I get mine. Plus seeing her eyes and face light up with such a beautiful smile is worth it all.
I instructed her to put her mail inside and then follow me to mine. She happily did with out hesitation, another trait I greatly admire.
She fallows behind me and inside. She bits her lip and plays with her hair out of nervousness. Instead of making her feel that way the whole time I decide to have her get right to work. "Can you please come over here and help me take off my shoes". A smile and nod is all it takes to confirm. I no longer need to do anything else for the night as I lean back and watch as I allow her to remove my shoes and put them away.
It took a lot of courage for her to talk with me, plus not hesitating when given her first instruction, this will not go unrewarded. For tonight she will serve, be helpful, productive and be useful in many ways for myself and hers.