Day 3: Letter to a Friend
Dear Andrea,
Remember how much we hated each other growing up in the same condo complex? I was intensely afraid of you. I don't know what I thought you were capable of doing to me, but it was enough to make me stay the hell away from you and your insolent friends. Your threats were abrasive. Especially the written ones on my doorstep. Unfortunately, both our last names started with an A. I remember being subjected to horrible seating arrangements whenever we'd have the undesirable matching class schedules. It wasn't until the 9th grade, that my audible frustrations with math made you turn around and ask me if I needed any help understanding the problems. I guess you weren't so bad after all. Or maybe you were finally maturing. After that we started talking, even hanging out outside of class. All of my preppy friends were quite confused. All of your obtrusive friends were quite shocked. But somehow it was you and I that became best friends. We stuck by each other throughout the years as the rest of our friends came and went. I think you would agree with me that the summer of 2004 was the best summer ever. We were best friends with Josh and Gil. I finally had a car and a license. Beach trips, Taking Back Sunday, random high school parties, and our beloved alcohol made up a huge part of that summer. I wish we could have stayed in that summer for the rest of our lives. What happened in December of that year was something more than any of us could have ever handled. But I had you and you had me. And we both sunk down together on that cold hospital floor when we found out our best friend Josh was not going to make it. I think after his death, you and I both changed. I think we checked out for quite awhile. But you were there for me during the Dark Ages as we call it. You were there for me after every horrible decision I made and best of all, you never judged me. You never judged me for who I randomly fucked. For what drug I started to do. For all my drunken nights that I'd drink way too much alcohol for such a small girl that I'd end up crying on several different bathroom floors. And you were there the night I told you to do Ecstasy with me. Because it was the best feeling in the world and I wanted to share it with you. But the night didn't go as planned. I was drinking plenty of water. Because that is what you do when you take X. Finally I had to pee. Like really bad. But for some reason my bladder was not working. I started freaking out. And you were right there with me, telling me to relax. You started looking up online if that was a normal side-effect. But before you could let me know whether or not it was, I was blacked out and didn't wake up until days later when you had to take me the the hospital because I was turning blue and making an awful grinding noise. And you were there in this hospital with me and my entire family as the doctors told you guys I probably wouldn't wake up from a coma and if I did I would be severely brain damaged. But I somehow did make it. I think Josh was there looking after me. We thought the bad times were over. We were both different people, but you and I had the "same brain". We thought the exact same things. I swear it was because of all the shit we went through together. But then we heard the horrible news. Another one of our friends, Chrissy, was in the hospital. Spinal meningitis. But there was no way she could die from it we told each other. She was going to pull through, right? But somehow she didn't. She passed away after telling her father, it was okay to let her go. That dying was just like "Wizard of Oz". And then she was gone. We were devastated. I think this is when our alcohol level rose even more. You and I kind of went our separate ways after this. I was getting into cocaine and older boys and you were doing your own thing. We were angry at life. I still can't believe we went months without talking. Especially because we really did need each other during that time. But between the both of us, we were changing. We didn't want to take life for granted anymore. We lost too much. We realized life was short and we wanted to experience as much as we could! When we finally started talking again we both realized our newly viewpoint on life was about the same. We both wanted to travel the world ! To do and see everything we possibly could before the end of our days. And travel, we did! We went on so many amazing roadtrips. I will never forget any of them. Even our mini-roadtrips....we'd have the most memorable times and meet the coolest people ever. I am so happy we got to spend all those happy times together and I wouldn't change them for the world! I remember the day we finally ended up in Seattle. It was August 2006 and you and I were awe-stricken. It was AMAZING. That day we vowed one day we would end up in Washington and live there together. And now here I am. It's amazing of course, but it would be so much better if you here. So thank you Andrea for being there for me through the hard times, and for all the great times! I know after all we have been through together that we will always be kindred spirits! Love you! Love always, Natalie
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