A new pattern seems to be appearing in my life. Over the last few months, I’ve been coming into contact with old friends and people that I never expected to hear from again, bringing with them a whole flood of emotions and memories.
During the end of my junior year in high school, I had started dating a girl who was a senior. The relationship was brief, and eventually soured (I believe it was entirely my fault, but that’s not the point). And, for one reason or another, when it was done, there was a fair amount of ill will towards one and other.
She had graduated that year, and during the summer was getting ready to go away to college, when it occurred to me that I might not ever see her again. I guess I had finally realized that the world was a very big place, and it’s entirely possible to lose contact with people forever, with out even really trying
Being the smug little asshole that I was, I think I called her the night that she was leaving, and told her just that—I relished in it. “I’ll never talk to you again, so have a great life,” or something, I said. And that, I assumed was that.
Of course, a year or two later, when she emailed me from school, she proved me wrong. We eventually became friends again, and I ended up driving down to see her several times, though never in a capacity other than as friends. (there was actually a reason for that, but we don’t need to get into that here).
I’m not sure if she’ll ever realize just how much I appreciated her friendship later in life.
It was a very pleasant surprise to hear from her this morning, after having fallen out of contact again.