Let me have a friend
Like a mirror reflecting my true self
Without hesitation or pretense …
Let me have a friend
Who understands my sorrow
As the ocean comprehends each wave’s crest and fall …
Let me have a friend
With whom I can journey to the stars and back
In a bond as deep as the sea …
Let me have a friend
Like a lighthouse guiding ships through turbulent seas
And offering calm and strength in every storm
Let me have a friend
Who grasps my every need
Like a gardener tending to each unique flower
Let me have a friend
Not merely a cherry blossom’s fleeting bloom
But a steadfast bamboo, bending yet unbroken
Let me have a friend
Like a serene rock in a Zen garden
Grounded and unwavering, amidst all change
Let me have a friend
Like a forest that shelters and steadies
Providing refuge and resilience through the fiercest winds …
Let me have a friend
Like a tranquil meditation that clears the mind
Guiding me with peace and clarity through life’s ups and downs …
Let me have a friend
To whom I am never just a fleeting shadow or afterthought …
Let me have a friend
To whom my heart can freely speak
Finding solace and understanding as naturally as a river finds its course …
Let me have a friend
To whom I can confide
A patient listener whose presence is a quiet sanctuary
Where my words find a refuge and my thoughts are truly heard …
Let me have a friend
Who will embrace me without judgment
As a canvas welcomes every brushstroke without critique …
Let me have a friend
As a flame nurtured by kindling eventually warms the whole hearth …
Let me have a friend
To whom I can share my deepest secrets …
And lastly,
Let me have a bosom friend
Who says, “Let’s embrace the day,”
And never utters “Goodbye” to me …
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I’ve been in London for over 22 days now. A few old school friends live here and reached out to me. At first, I was caught up in other things, but after two weeks, I’ve finally settled into a slower rhythm of life. Since I live in a peaceful, almost countryside area, I don’t feel the pull to venture into the city often. My friends would like me to come out, reconnect, and spend time wandering the city, but here’s the truth: I can’t seem to muster the interest …
It might seem harsh, but that’s just how I am. I know them well, and their materialistic nature makes me feel stifled. While I’d rather talk about nature, travel, art, books, poetry, love, philosophy, human nature, yoga, meditation, and similar topics, they tend to focus on things I do not know about or I don’t seem to internalise them. So, I keep my distance from most of the so-called friends …
Many might assume I’m extroverted, but to their surprise, I’m deeply introverted. So much so that they haven’t even realized how I navigate social interactions. A friend gave me her contact number, but I felt so down that I didn’t want to reach out. I worried that talking to her might be overwhelming, and I wasn’t sure what we’d discuss or if it would make me anxious. So I’m just taking time. I’m not sure if this is a problem on just how I am, but it’s been the way it is so far, and honestly though, I never want to upset or disappoint them, but for my own set of mind, I often find myself retreating and taking space …
I didn’t reach out to them when I arrived because I wanted some distance, to just be away for a while. Now that they’ve found out I’m here and have been asking to meet up since last week, I feel like retreating even more, like hiding away to avoid the gathering. Some days, meeting people feels exhausting, and I find myself constantly seeking excuses to evade it. These are those kinds of days …
Moreover I often feel drained by the idea of one-on-one interactions with just anyone, even that’s a friend for name’s sake. There I may start to overthink: What will we talk about? How will the time pass? All of these worries pile up, leaving me reluctant to engage. In group settings, it’s easier- there I don’t feel the same pressure to carry the conversation. (Do you ever feel this way?) They can do that within themselves and I can be just a listener. But then meeting just one person feels like a task I need energy for, which I often don’t have … and I can only give that precious time and energy only to my bestie, and my special one … not to anyone else!
Even with old school or work friends, I need to feel an inner pull, a desire, to meet them. I’m more than willing to be there when they need me, but when it comes to my own connections, I’m very selective. I only truly open up with a rare few- a close friend and other person with whom I can share anything, knowing they’ll always wish the best for me … With my besties, I can truly be myself (though my true self might be a bit annoying and wild, witty and weird to them, but I don’t mind being silly to them) …
I care for my besties deeply, wishing them happiness and ease in life. Even from miles away, it’s as if they are a constant star in my sky—always present in my thoughts. I reach out to share everything happening here, as if sending them messages across the distance to keep them close … yes, I want to remain close, somehow …
I recently came across a reflection on friendship that resonated with me:
“The only trick of friendship is to find people who are better than you are—not smarter, not cooler, but kinder, and more generous, and more forgiving—and then to appreciate them for what they can teach you, and to try to listen to them when they tell you something about yourself, no matter how bad—or good—it might be, and to trust them, which is the hardest thing of all. But the best, as well.”
~ Hanya Yanagihara, A Little Life
I love my friend who is a better human than I am. I know they always want the best for me, whether we’re together or apart …
I miss my bestie so much!
When I show you my affection, it means you are my chosen best friend …
I’ve a childhood story to tell about it … some other day, I may share! I wonder if you would wish to hear that story! Someday! One day, may be!
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A question- what is friendship to you?
Another question—do you think long-distance friendships can endure, even if the friends haven’t met in person yet?
Roksana Tales 