meeting a mirror of my soul

When I started high school, I had no idea that I was going to meet my soul mate.

We both were on a waiting list to attend the school.  I had already started some classes at a different high school, and was pretty miserable.  But my parents fought for me to get into that school.

Finally, I had a chance to take a placement test.  I remember walking into the building, and being led to my seat.  I remember the dividers.  I remember being focused, but aware of the others around me.

It wasn't until a bit later that I realized that my future best friend was sitting right next to me.

Apparently, she thought that I seemed really stuck up!  Hahahahaha...it's hilarious!

So, not only did she end up sitting next to me that fateful test day.  She and I shared a homeroom for all those years.  After my family and I moved to our first house, we shared the same school bus for the rest of our time in high school.  We both have 1 brother, both with the same first name.  We were both foreign-born in the capital cities of our respective countries.  Our names are even similar to each other, and our nicknames became synonymous with each other.  I wouldn't be surprised if we were somehow related in our past lives.

These are things I didn't learn until after late October of our freshman year.  We sat in different circles during lunch time, with friends from our previous schools.  One day, she was in crisis.  It's a long story, and I'm not planning to share her story here.  But the gist was that her and her family were in trouble.  I tried to help her as much as I could that day, walking with her to our guidance counselor's office.  Unfortunately, her and I shared a similar history.

We've helped to support each other through many trying times...boyfriends, family, health, sanity...

Thirteen years later, her and I are still best friends.  I'm in Boston, she's in New York.  Though our lives are very different, it's as though nothing has changed when we meet up.  I have no doubt that we will be in each others lives til the end...and maybe even beyond.