Smile

Years ago. We were pals. We had gone to high school together (she was a couple years younger). Then later we worked together at the same watering hole… slinging burgers and beers. We thought we’d stay pals forever.

We thought we’d always have time.

Then as life happens, we changed jobs, grew up, got married, had kids, somehow you just stop seeing each other. I moved. She moved.

Then years later, she looked me up.
That was 4 years ago.
She came to spend the weekend with me. We vowed, over a couple bottles of wine, hours of laughing and reminiscing, to stay in touch.

I guess we figured we’d always have time.

Then I got sick. It consumed me. I didn’t tell her. I wanted her to remember me the way she’d last seen me. Laughing.

What I didn’t know, was that she got sick too. She didn’t tell me. Maybe she wanted me to remember her laughing. Her laugh was contagious.

Today I found out she died of breast cancer.
Two years ago.

I guess I always thought we’d have time.