In Our Time

That bleak summer day I stood outside the school just staring at my future; cautioning myself into that which was about to become mine, my life, my story, my confidant was consuming me.  I saw the moments about to be shared, the memories to be made, and the souls to be touched.  You came up behind me and in the moment that your hand slipped into mine and we walked through those doors to take on the world I knew that everything would be all right.  We’d make it somehow, together, arm in arm.1

As we entered the building a whole new aura surrounded us.  All of a sudden we were not as mighty as we pictured ourselves to be.  Swallowed by the questions and horrific events that shadowed our everyday lives, we began to crumble.  Our experiences ripping us from the inside out and we just refused to acknowledge the separation occurring within us.  We continued to repeat the phrases, “Friends forever” and “It’s us against the world”.  Our mindsets in another spot, the world chose our path, a very distant path, yet, so close.  Monthly phone calls and passing each other in the halls kept us together.  Even if we weren’t together we were still standing through the crisis’s consuming our auras, standing through the rough weather, hail, and even spots of glory; always congratulating each other when necessary and consoling one another when in need.  The time had come to acknowledge the separation of hearts, minds, and worlds.  We strolled back to the door no longer linked by arms, this time only linked through our confident pasts, our hearts, and the memories that all too well overcame us.2

As we come to the end of the hallway, instead of both motioning to the same door, the door to our future, I, being unforgettable and emotionally attached, headed back, back to the door we entered through, and you, not knowing what else to do, went towards your future with the sun shining and glory rising.  I put my hand on the door about to leave and I looked back, back to see you overcome all that you’ve been through, all that we’ve been through and making it out safely.  Then, I subconsciously turn back to my door and push it open, knowing the whole while that this just defines even better the fact that I have to start over, but this time, alone.  Sure, there will be those monthly phone calls and random times when we pass in the hallway, but for the most part, that was another time, a time that had all too quickly come and gone, a time I wish I could start over again to end up walking through your door, linked arm in arm.  I start walking out, wind going through my hair and a single tear slipping all too suddely from my eye.3

A picture, an image, is cascaded across a canvas of this moment in time.  It represents a portrayal of us, our separation, and the sudulty of us being still so close.  Here I stand, looking at the double doors, wondering how I ever got here, how I ever got to the other side, your side.  An all too familiar feeling overcomes me as I reach up to my cheek.  There’s another tear escaping from my inner emotions, this time they’re happy; happy to be here, happy to have overcome and conquered.  I look closer at the doors and see a figure looking the other way.  It’s you, searching for me and I know inside I’m mouthing the words ‘I’m right here’.  You never left, never went on to your future, somehow you knew me still and you knew I would make it in my own time, in my own way and I did.  Realizing I’m moving, I push open the doors to you and you turn around.  The sunshine is overwhelming our minds and tears are overwhelming our bodies.  As we stand there looking at each other eyes locked, hands holding us together, we laugh and start to escape the past and walk into our future, together, arm in arm.4