I hold my friendships very close refusing most of time to let go. I try my hardest to be the glue that sticks everyone together. My family is mostly friends, people that have stuck by me through thick and thin. They have been there for the tears and laughs, joys and heartbreaks. And although I consider all of my friends to be dear to me. There are 2 that no matter what will I always love and cherish. Amber and Lisa. We met in middle school, quit possibly the most inhumane torture a parent can legally put their child through. We met by fate, and it was fate that kept us together for so many years. Through middle school and my move to Arkansas, we always managed to stay in touch. We even managed to maintained our friendship into high school were the pressure to fit in is always nagging, we stood our ground and remained true to eachother. But fate can sometimes be a mean women and made decisions for us that we had no control over. Amber was forced to leave Colorado and moved away from us. Leaving Lisa and I to fend for ourselves. We managed, and remained friends, but Amber got lost in the shuffle. Her life having taken a different role than mine and Lisa's, that of mother. Sadly, Lisa and I lost contact with Amber. I can honestly say I felt as though a piece of my heart had been ripped away. As it seems my heart is not really mine, but belongs to everyone I love. There was not a day that went by that I did not think of Amber and how we were missing each other's lives. Graduation came, and Lisa moved to Texas, and fell in love, marrying her now husband. I married too, and along came our children. Aragorn born in November and her daughter Miranda in December. We celebrated these times with e-mails and pictures. All the while both of us wondering what Amber was doing, had she married? did she have more kids? what did she decide to do with her life? we always thought the best for her, that she had become famous with her writing, or drawing, we often joked, that it would be great to walk into a store and see something by her on the shelf. Every time we talked, there was always a slight sigh of sadness, when we each had to say "No, not yet" to the question if we had heard from her. Then in October of '09, Lisa sent me and e-mail
"Hey I got a friend request on face book for an Amber……do you think it's her?"
"I don't know, but god I hope so" I replied
Lisa and I stayed up late that night her until 11pm and myself until well after midnight, in hopes that this Amber would log on and answer our burning question. Lisa sent me an e-mail early that morning
"If you hear from her, let me know as soon as you can"
"I will, I promise" was my response
I do not think ever in my life I have had a day seem to last as long as that day. I waited and watched. The day was half over when she accepted my friend request and all I could do was cry. My life, was now 100% complete. I e-mailed Lisa immediately
"It's HER oh my god!!!"
We have fallen right back into a friendship that although missing for so many years, was never erased. We have decided to try and do a family trip this summer, Lisa, Amber, myself and the family's we have created. I look forward to many many years of growing up together…………again.
The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. ~Elisabeth Foley
If you're alone, I'll be your shadow. If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder. If you want a hug, I'll be your pillow. If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile. But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me. ~Author Unknown