. Our friendship was based on being near eachconstantly, of growing up in the same town, under the same conditions, with the same hopes, fears, anddreams. Now we still go to movies occasionally and hang out, but it's not the same, and we both know it. Ithought Mike and I would be friends forever, and maybe we will be. I mean, we have to make those moviestogether, right? But the way things look right now, I doubt we will ever reconnect. Our friendship in the seventhgrade was magical, and lightning doesn't strike twice. My playwriting teacher from middle school left, but I handled it. I learned a great deal from him, and I appreciatehim for the subject he taught and the way that he taught it. I will probably miss my parents when I leave forcollege, but I doubt the separation will pain me deeply since the connection between parents and children willalways be there. With Mike, I lost the best friend I ever had, and I lost that forever. Losing that kind of bond cutsdeep, and I know it's the type of wound that doesn't heal. It's the type of wound you just live with. But just because we're not friends anymore, it doesn't slight the times we had when we were friends. Thosetimes are what influenced me so deeply. No, Mike did not work some lesson into my heart, he worked himselfinto my heart, and even if I never see the guy again he changed me forever. I think that finding someone whoyou truly connect with and feel that you were destined to meet, someone who you feel truly understands you andmakes you feel special, I think meeting someone like that is one of the most profound experiences you canhave. ...
