Member-only story
FRIENDSHIP
I Changed and It Broke Us
The cracks were always there
“Do you want to get drinks after our shift?”
I looked over my shoulder at her. She waited patiently, her eyes on me, as I processed her question.
“Erm, ok,” I replied, unsure how to respond.
We didn’t get along. Or I thought we didn’t get along. She was loud, bold, and bossy — everything I wasn’t. We’d been working together for months, and I’d never warmed to her.
Nevetheless, after we’d closed down the restaurant that night, we headed to a bar. I soon discovered we had little in common. I was an eighteen-year-old student, just starting college, single, and ambitious. She was twenty-two, had just graduated college, lived with her boyfriend, and lacked direction.
Yet, by the end of the night, we were best friends.
Sixteen years later, we still are.
It turned out that she was outgoing, fun, and friendly, and was the only person who could match my sense of humor.
The next five years were a drunken adventure of parties, trips, boys, tears, and a whole lot of mischief. Other friends surrounded us, but we were always the last ones standing and the last ones laughing.
