We have been friends forever. That's what we always say. It really started at nursery school. The photos of us there, age four. You, blue eyes and white blonde hair, in a bright red dress.
Me, dark hair pulled up in a bun, dark brown eyes and a white cheese cloth dress with red trim.
Smiling innocents caught on camera.
We went to the same schools, primary and high school. We were separated only for the first year at high school. Me getting into trouble got me moved class, and we were back together again.
We drifted a little after school, not knowing which way in life we were really heading. You working, me at college then university, but still in our home town.
We always found our way back to each other, especially in times of turmoil, losses and hearts being broken by unsuitable boys.
You cannot buy the years of shared memories, of tears and triumphs, and moving forwards and backwards as we tried to navigate the different stages and changing fortunes of our lives.
We are in our 50's now and we are still friends, but we laugh like kids again when we talk about what we got up to. We recorded ourselves on your red ghetto blaster, dressing up and pretending to be old ladies and imagining what we would actually be like when we got old.
We support each other now through the chronic illnesses we have both developed but never saw coming.
Reflecting on the choices we have both made over the years, many of them good, some not so much. We have learned from them and from each other.
Always certain that our choice to be friends all those years ago, was the right one.