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.
