In networking, a firewall is a logical barrier designed to prevent unauthorized communication within a computer network. Its basic purpose is to control information traffic between computer networks with various zones of trust. The Internet, for example, is a high-risk zone. On the other hand, a local network is a zone with high trust. (Supposedly, anyway.) Proper management of the firewall demands skill from the firewall administrator. In the hands of the administrator, a firewall can be rendered powerful, or become useless as a security tool.

I have my own firewall. Not just in my PC, but within myself. We all do, whether or not we realize it. We use our firewall to share our lives to others, or to block out aspects of ourselves that we wish to keep private. Even though we wish to think that we are friendly people, we still have firewalls. And just because we’re open to others, it doesn’t mean that we actually are open.

Take me, for example. People always tell me that I’m such a cheerful, approachable, friendly person. And I am. They say that if you sit down with me, you’ll know my life story in the span of more or less half an hour. That’s probably pretty accurate. I ask questions to the people I meet, and I answer queries with a smile that people tend to find contagious.

But does that mean that I’m completely open to everyone?

Not really.

We all need firewalls.

Even me.

An open book, I may be. A transparent girl, I may be. But there are just some things that just can’t be disclosed to certain people at certain times.

So, when you discover that there are some things I don’t share to you, even though you’re one of my close friends, please don’t get angry. Don’t try to brutally tear down the walls, just because I’m supposed to be ‘open’. Don’t suddenly think that I don’t have enough confidence in you. Because I do. I have confidence that you can wait for me to grant you access. Just as I’m confident that, someday, you’ll grant me access to the hidden sectors of your mind.

And please, if you can… Please try to see if there are things that I’ve been trying to show you. Sometimes, I’m already allowing you to pass through the barrier, you’re just not paying enough attention.

Because, before you know it, the opportunity to see through me might be gone.