If They Need Me, I'm There

This morning I got on Facebook and saw a post by a girl that at one point, I couldn't go more than five hours without talking to. She was one of my best friends. We met at Norfolk State and I became inseparable with her and two other guys. Now she lives in Florida, and we barely talk. One of the guys lives in Richmond, and I've seen him twice in the last year. The third guy lives on the other side of campus, and I see him once a week at most.

What happened to us? I understand that you can't expect people to stay in your life forever, but I thought that was a high school thing. I figured that of all the people you surrounded yourself with, only one or two of them would be true friends. I mean I only communicate with two friends from high school now. Isn't that how it's supposed to be?

I thought college was different. I thought you made lifelong connections here. The small group I had freshman year was supposed to be the people I could call on forever. We'd be the maid of honor or best man at each other's weddings. We'd be godparents to each other's kids. How can we do that now if we don't even talk?

It's a shame that I've got all these questions and no answers. I suppose I could get all philosopher-y and look inside myself for the answer.

I don't have time for that.

I'll just do like most other people and blame everyone else. The phone works both ways, right? Why should the life span of my relationships with others be in my hands alone?

It can't be as serious as I'm making it out to be.

My mom has friends from high school that she probably talks to once a year. She has some that send short Facebook messages every once in a while. She has some she probably hasn't spoken to in over five years.

She isn't complaining.

I need to stop being so "Disney Channel" and realize that we're growing up. There was probably a one-in-a-million chance that I'd have the "Shawn and Cory" relationship. You know, the situation where you meet at a young age, become best friends, graduate high school together, go to college, get married, get in trouble and so on, all while you manage to maintain an in-sync relationship with your best friend.

Since that's not how my life is going, I'm going to be happy with what I've got. They may not be right by my side and we may not talk every single day, but I've got a good group of people that have got my back. The same goes for them.

If they need me, I'm there.