8 YEARS

In grade 3 there was this girl in my class that I didn't like, I didn't know why, there was just something about her. In grade 4 I disliked her even more. In grade 5 we actually became good friends, by grade 6 we were in inseparable.
Marie-Josee is the person I've had in my life since everything started to matter.
I was telling Justin how excited I was to see her on Saturday because I hadn't seen her since the winter, it turns out, he'd met her 2 years back.
Honestly, that blew my mind.
It seems silly but to me it made everything seem so much smaller, so much more controlled. Like everything will end well.
I mean c'mon, two of the people I cherish most already met without me in the picture?
That's not a coincidence.

The story behind Marie is that, I guess I was afraid to be her friend, to let her in, when I was younger because maybe I realized how attached I could get to her, how vulnerable I could be because of hear. Honestly those two qualities make our friendship. It's been 8 years now, obviously, we are attached.
we have been to hell and back holding each others hands.
I remember we got in a fight over her nirvana shirt, I lost it somewhere in my house.
We didn't talk for at least 7 months, it was so horrible not being able to even talk to each other. Eventually we just forgot about it and moved on. thank god.
I found the shirt maybe 2 months ago, I laughed so hard. It seemed so silly to give up my other half for a fucking shirt!
So now we see each other a few times a year, we make time to see each other despite everything in our lives.

So Saturday I met her downtown and we went to an art gallery in the plateau. I met her boyfriend there and honestly I was a little worried when she told me his age, but he's a great person and I know he's good for her.
We discussed art and went strolling around the city, we smoked and talked about life and everything that's happening. It felt good to be able to talk to someone so neutral, so out of everything that I know right now.
We went to a thrift store where they give you free coffee or tea and you can just sit on piles of clothes drinking all day long.
It was amazing to see her face, every time I see her she's closer to becoming the amazing person she's gonna be one day.
This girl gives me hope.