Friends

 

'Friend', is a word that I find myself redefining throughout the years. When I was 6, I assumed the word 'friend' referred to my lunch-mate, whom I did not mind sharing my stuffed purple dinosaur with. At age 10, 'friend' meant someone that shared my every interest, someone that agreed to everything I said. 'Friend' was the person I shared my insignificant little girl secrets with. 'Friend' was also the person I tended to compromise for, even when I really did not want to. At the time, the thought of losing someone with such a title was far more terrifying than the satisfaction of getting things done my way.

At 13, the word 'friend' took on a deeper meaning. At 13, 'friend' was defined as a person whom acted as the extension of your own body. 'Friend' meant partner, definite desk-mate and the go-to person for all angsty teenage woes. 'Friend' meant the person you gossiped with during the 20 minutes of recess, the one person you felt comfortable sharing your silly post-pubescent insecurities with.

At 16, however, I found out that the word 'friend' had one more definition. Saviour. At 16, I realized that fifteen people with completely contrasting personalities and completely contradicting stands could save me. I realized that hot tempered ex-delinquent, a hard-core school athlete with a soft heart, a top seat member of the school prefectorial board, a happy-go-lucky wally, a jokester, an innocent food-ist with unwavering religious beliefs, a sarcastic wallflower could all co-exist as very very very good friends. 

This year, I learnt that my friends were the people who picked me up when I'm down. The people who knew how long it took for me to give up. The people who held me close when I just about to. Friends were the people who listened to me when my parents didn't. The people I shared my deepest hopes and darkest fear with. The people that I loved. The people I would sacrifice anything for. 'Friend' referred to all the fifteen individuals that knew how to made me laugh when I was angry, that took the time to hold me as I cried. (you know who you are)

A person could have one friend, or they could have a hundred. In the year 2013, I found my true friends. I could a-count for all of them with just two of my tiny hands. 7 girls 8 guys, fifteen true friends. Fifteen character who have so richly lived and developed before my very eyes to the point where I would find myself struggling to find the sufficient words within the infinite number that the English Language has to offer for the simple task of describing their biological makeup. These fifteen people have stood by me during my heartache and have laughed with me when my heart soared. I would do whatever it takes to repay them for their friendship x