SUBJECT: Lifelong Friendship

I stumbled on a tree root and you were there to take my hand and pick me back up. We were 5. I didn’t know you, but the other kids were laughing at me and I was upset because I had just muddied my best jeans. You smiled and said nothing.

We walked back to the playground and somehow, in your company those muddy jeans didn’t seem like such a big deal.

The dance was a week away. I had nothing to wear and my parents wouldn’t be able to take me shopping. We didn’t have a car, even though at 16, everyone should have a car. You asked your parents if we could go the mall.
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You didn’t tell them why, but they took us anyway. You endured hours of me trying everything on. Even made a few suggestions. I remember now that I actually bought the one you said looked the best on me. Of course it was one you picked out, you always need to be right. And you are.

I don’t know how it happened, maybe it was because school ended or that’s just part of growing up, but one day you weren't in my life anymore. We decided we would write one another, every day of course. 2 weeks went by and I hadn’t written anything. I also hadn’t gotten a letter from you in awhile. 3 months. 1 year.

I was scrolling facebook the other day in between crying babies, dirty diapers and sleepless nights. Out of a seemingly random moment, your face popped up in my news feed and I found you through another friend. I sent you a message right away hoping that I had seen right. Sure enough you replied and we talked all night. I had to walk away and change a diaper or two, rock the baby back to sleep in between your messages. But it was good to hear about your life and what was happening. And, wow. You’re back in our hometown? I only live an hour away from there. We should get together sometime.

I was really nervous the first time I saw you again, We were kids the last time we hung out together. Our babies played on the kiddie playground while we admired each other’s wedding rings, joked about parenting and made sure our babies weren’t eating dirt when we got caught up in a good story. It was just like we were kids again. Even though time had changed us both, there was something that kept us together. We should do this again.

Your wife called me the other day to let me know that you were in the hospital. It was hard to hear, but I listened and let her explain. My son was so kind, I know he works a lot and I’m getting too old to do much for myself, but he took the weekend off to drive me over there. It took 5 hours. I’m getting too old for this shit. I was thinking about telling you that in person but when I got there you flipped me off and I laughed so hard my teeth nearly fell out. I sat with you all night. Almost all night, in between some well needed bathroom breaks. The nurse was so sweet to bring me an uncomfortable cot to lay on. I held your hand and we talked. We probably talked for 5 hours straight. I don’t really know. Time does weird things these days. It was good to see you though. I fell asleep sometime before sunrise. We aren’t teenagers anymore damnit. We don’t have the endurance for this. I went to say good morning and you were smiling. Your eyes were closed. Your hand was cold. I remember when we were 5 and you helped me up. I’m glad I could return the gesture.