12 Years a Friend

  When you hear the word friendship, what goes through your mind?  For me the question isn't easily answered.  A number of thoughts swim in my head.  Passing notes in class, critiquing each others attempt at poetry, bowling alleys, and arguments over boys to name a few.  Real and true friendships aren't that simple however, at least mine isn't.
   It began our freshman year of high school, and as far as I can remember we hit it off in "Mrs. Umm's" science class.  Remember those notes I mentioned?  This is where they happened.  Sitting either behind or in front of one another hardly paying attention to the lesson being taught.  It was then that we realized we needed each other to survive that place.  We fueled one another, stood up for each other, and spoke our minds to everyone.  On the weekends, we spent our time at the bowling alley either having a great time or being the victim of some boys terrible attempt at a kiss.  We talked boys, listened to SPM (the south park Mexican for those who don't know), and laughed our butts off at basically everything.  I don't think either one of us really realized back then how special our friendship really was.  We were inseparable, until we weren't.
   It was gone like the snap of a finger, drop of a hat, or whatever other metaphor you want to use.  She dropped out of high school after freshman year and I made new friends.  No friendship was ever as easy or meaningful after that though.  Fast forward a few years, well quite a few more than just a few. Try about eight years to be precise.  We didn't speak, write, or send post cards.  What we did do was miss out on each others lives.  I missed her marriage and the birth of her two children and she the birth of mine.  We missed out on having each other for support through heart aches and disappointments.
   I don't think either of us thought we could ever pick up where we left off, but we did.  It really was that easy.  We trusted each other with every secret, every mistake, and every flaw.  See, we had both grown so much since we last saw one another, but the bond never changed.  We talked about our lives, our loves, and our dreams, always laughing in the process.  No more bowling alleys or passing notes, but a lot of heart to hearts, dinners, and invisible ninjas.  We helped each other through hard times, always being honest and empathetic toward each other.  We saw each other at our worst and at our very best. 
   We hit a very big rough patch in our friendship about seven months ago.  We saw the very worst in each other then, and today I still don't know if we will ever be the same.  After everything we've helped each other through and as much as we've believed in each other, I truly feel that no one will ever take her place.  We could go years without speaking again, but in my heart I know we would pick right back up where we left off.  Bonnie Jo Wilson, you are and will forever be my best friend.  No matter how bad we may have hurt each other, we have helped and loved each other way more.  Though it brings tears to my eyes, I know that a bond of friendship between two souls can never be broken.

Sincerely,
Angie