Evolving friendships
By Stephany Harrington, Columnist
People in our lives come and go. Some stay for years and others only stay for a short while. Sometimes they just disappear, almost as if they were never there at all. It is hard to cope with the idea that someone could mean a lot to you for so long, and then they fade away. I guess it is part of the facts of life; I am sure I can expect this to happen many more times.
In high school, I had a close group of friends. We spent a lot of time together. When everyone revealed their college decisions, we realized that none of us would really be near each other. At the time, I was not entirely worried, because I just had the mentality that we would all stay good friends. Later on, I started thinking of my one particular friend. I suspected that she might be the one to leave and never look back.
And I think that is exactly what she did. Sure, we talked a little bit here and there once we both went to school. We might have Skyped a few times. But then, it all kind of just stopped. I guess living in Chicago made her realize she did not want to return home anymore. And when she actually did visit home, we did not make plans anymore. And as of now, that is the way it is.
Friendships will transform as our lives progress, but the memories will always be there. Photo Credit: theguardian.com
I have no doubt that if we made plans to hang out, we would have a great time together, catching up and remembering all of the stupid things we did in high school. Sometimes I miss her friendship and want to reconnect, but part of me thinks that despite my efforts, it would never happen. And I guess I am alright with that. Because I have decided that she might be one of those people who are only in my life for a little while.
It was wonderful when she was there, but now I’ve moved on and I have other friends. Her departure was not life altering or entirely that tragic. It just was. And I have come to learn that those things happen. Some people that we get to know and love are just temporary. And that is not necessarily a bad thing.
Part of me worries that my good friends now might only be temporary. In another year I will have to face the same issues I did in high school. Graduation. People disappear after you have been with them for four years. They move on with their life. And some of them will never look back. It really is strange that things change this way. But it is something I have recently come to terms with.
They were very important to me for a certain time. And now when I think of them, it might only be in memories. When they were in my life, they changed me. Whether it was great or small, they had their effect. And I will always remember that we laughed once, we cried once, we loved once. We might never speak again, but I can still remember.
