keep on keeping on

One year three months and six days ago, I stood at a street corner somewhere inside Diliman. I stood and watched as dusk settle in as it slowly painted everything in shades of purple. I stood, watched and all the while listened to the lamentations of a dear friend:

"There were no warnings. There were no signs. No one told me that it would happen. It just did."

I kept mum.

Indeed, life happens. It gets in the way of everything. All those late night phone calls and chats, or those fun dinner dates and weekend getaways, or the endless streams of gossip and inside jokes - it comes and eventually, it goes. Mainly because people grow, and as much as I hate to admit it, some do grow apart.

The friend continued, "But we're still okay. We do catch up from time to time, but..."

But it’s different?

I thought to myself. My friend's voice gave it away.

But it hurts to feel like you have been outgrown and there's nothing you can do but watch yourself fade into the background?

It's a struggle. I should know. I've been there.

That night, I have come to accept that friendship does ebb and flow. Even the closest can end up finding themselves so far out from where they've started; so far apart from another; much farther from where they thought they'd end up. In the end, one just have to let it run its course.

But I'm not one to just let it go, much more so for those whom I deem too precious to lose.

One year three months and six days ago, I learned that no one is inseparable.

One year three months and six days ago, I swore that we'll be the exception.

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POSTSCRIPT. Happy Birthday.