It’s been four years. The demands of college, family life, and work have divided us into separate paths to answer the unique callings life has destined for each of us. I have not seen some of you since the night we graduated. That doesn’t mean you haven’t crossed my mind on a daily basis.
Perhaps it’s because graduation is looming yet again, making me contemplate where life has guided me and what paths I should travel down next; perhaps it’s because, while studying for my next exam, I suddenly remembered the punchline to an inside joke from middle school.
Maybe it’s because I recently discovered the weathered half of a friendship bracelet made in sixth grade, which reminded me that there was another half existing somewhere else.
Either way, I've been thinking of you a lot more than usual lately.
The one factor that truly united us was the one thing so many of us couldn’t wait to depart from: high school. Despite our insistent assertions that we couldn’t wait to abandon our routine schedules, high school provided the platform for sharing some of our greatest passions: making music, writing poetry, playing sports.
The possibilities were endless and they were all more meaningful when they were spent in the company of friends.
Outside of class, we’d converse over popcorn while reading Reddit posts and adventure aimlessly about town for hours, planning our next great escapade. Some of us would share our love of music at band festivals with fellow talented musicians.
In many ways, we were autonomous and carefree. Our naive senses of invincibility had yet to be burdened by the true tribulations of life. We were jobless and totally dependent on our parents, yet in our fragile innocence we had the world at our fingertips.
I miss confiding in you, laughing with you, and being sad with you. I miss sitting next to you in class. I miss seeing you on a daily basis, the superficial guise of social media only acting as a filter for the true intimacy provided by day-to-day interactions.
I often wonder how having one another in each other’s lives has molded us into the individuals we are today. I dream of the day when I can see you again face-to-face and we can play another song together or converse over another Reddit post (or two).
Until then, I hope that your life continues to be filled with good people and fond memories just as my life has been blessed with you.
