Two best friends, Green and Purple, are hanging out at their favourite local cafe.

“Do you unicorn love me?”, asks Green.

“I don’t even know what that means?  You’re my friend, I love you.” responds Purple.

“But what about unicorn love?  Do you believe it exists?”, Green continues with the probing.

Purple is not amused, “Unicorns?  No, I don’t.  They’re fairy tale animals.  They don’t exist. They’re not real.”

“Ok.. so.. you love me as a friend, but you don’t unicorn love me.”  Green concludes.

“Yes, I love you.  You’re my friend. Stop with the unicorn nonsense.” exclaims Purple.

They sit still sipping their coffees; Green likes lattes while Purple likes double espresso.

Green whispers, “Have you ever considered unicorn love?”

“Are we really having this conversation? No, I haven’t!  I’ve never considered unicorn love. You’re being ridiculous!”, Purple is obviously annoyed.

Startled by Purple’s burst of passion, “Why would you think it’s ridiculous?”

“Because there’s no such thing as unicorn love!”, Purple becomes adamant that the conversation is over.

As they leave the coffee shop, Green has an idea:  “Let’s look for unicorn love sightings!”

Purple sighs, “You are unbelievable, my friend.  Persistent, stubborn and, what’s with this whimsical stuff?  If we do these so-called sightings for one hour, will you then drop it?”

They stroll through the neighbourhood and reach the grocery store parking lot.  A gentleman is pushing a cart full of food.  The bag of potatoes and the case of soda  begin to slide off the bottom rack.  Suddenly, two teenagers ran over to catch the food from falling to the ground.  “Sir, sir, your food is falling!”  They push the items back on to the rack.  “Thank you for your help,” replied the gentleman.  They smile and the kids run off.

Green says, “There it is!  Did you see it?  Unicorn love!”

Purple responds, “The teenagers helping the guy?  I didn’t see a unicorn.”

Surprised, Green says, “How could you not have seen it?  It was right in front of us.”

They continue walking.

Green smiles, “Look around you Purple, it’s everywhere.  Isn’t it spectacular?”

A family is having a picnic lunch under the oak tree, two lovers are walking hand-in-hand laughing, a community of friends are picking up garbage, a nurse is strolling with a patient in a wheelchair, and a young barber is cutting hair for some of the people living on the streets.

Green ponders, “Maybe we’re too preoccupied with our own lives that we overlook unicorn love sightings.  It’s all around us, Purple.  We just need to stop and look.  It doesn’t take my imagination to see it. I only need to take my eyes off myself.  It’s everywhere, Purple! I only need to look for it.”

Purple stops walking.  “Do you mean unconditional love?”

“What, no, unicorn love.” says Green.

Purple’s eyes brighten, “Oh Green, yes, there are many times I unicorn love you.  I don’t always do a good job with it, but, my dear friend, yes I sure do.  At least, I try to.”

“I knew it, Purple.  I always knew it.”, Green’s shoulders broaden and they continue to walk arm in arm.

Purple laughs, “Let’s keep looking for these sightings.  An hour isn’t enough.”

Several weeks ago, I started to write in my journal the word “unconditional”.  As I was printing each letter, I smiled to myself and added the letters “I” and “R”  (see screenshot image)