An old friend
I could write quite a bit about this one and maybe someday I'll write something much longer....
A few months back, a guy I had grown up with reached out to me with an apology and a thank you. He apologized for how our relationship had ended and thanked me for having once presumed promise and value in him.
I was the classic unpopular kid in school. Everyone feels that way. All the kids I knew felt the need to point it out to me on a regular basis, so I'm pretty sure that was more than insecurity. In third grade, I met a kid with whom I just clicked. We became the very best of friends. He wasn't all that popular either and like me, he loved school and learning and creative escapes. We grew up together, discovered gaming together and were brothers in all but blood. Without him, I'd likely have gone mad
A little more than 15 years ago, we decided to start a live action role playing game company together out in Michigan. We had fallen in love with the New England Role-Playing Organization, NERO, and were certain we could make money doing what we loved. He had dropped out of school in Detroit (hence the location). I had been repeatedly kicked out of Dartmouth. It made perfect sense.
We got off to a great start with both of us finding initial success and indescribable happiness. As time went on and the money aspects didn't materialize, we started to struggle. I hadn't learned to deal with some of the mood disorder that still bothers me to this day (though I'm much better with it now). My parents split. We were in debt. And a girl who was a friend started coming on to me. She was the outlet I needed. I responded. But she was dating another mutual friend.
My best friend of so many years turned on me. I learned after the fact that he'd all but orchestrated my ostracism over this dalliance. Curiously, nothing ever happened with the girl. Sure enough, she turned her back on me too. I nearly killed myself. I don't mean figuratively.
When he reached out to me a few month ago, he explained that one of the biggest factors was jealousy.
We've exchanged many emails of those times and more recent ones. While I am sure I will forever be conflicted by it - nobody has ever come remotely close to wounding me as deeply as he did - I welcome him back into my life in whatever role emerges. Returning to that dark time in my life was difficult to be sure, but I've decided that life is too short.
He's an attorney now, with a son, married to a physician. His life is good. My life is good. I am happy and excited to rediscover some of that friendship that informs to this day much of who I am.
A few months back, a guy I had grown up with reached out to me with an apology and a thank you. He apologized for how our relationship had ended and thanked me for having once presumed promise and value in him.
I was the classic unpopular kid in school. Everyone feels that way. All the kids I knew felt the need to point it out to me on a regular basis, so I'm pretty sure that was more than insecurity. In third grade, I met a kid with whom I just clicked. We became the very best of friends. He wasn't all that popular either and like me, he loved school and learning and creative escapes. We grew up together, discovered gaming together and were brothers in all but blood. Without him, I'd likely have gone mad
A little more than 15 years ago, we decided to start a live action role playing game company together out in Michigan. We had fallen in love with the New England Role-Playing Organization, NERO, and were certain we could make money doing what we loved. He had dropped out of school in Detroit (hence the location). I had been repeatedly kicked out of Dartmouth. It made perfect sense.
We got off to a great start with both of us finding initial success and indescribable happiness. As time went on and the money aspects didn't materialize, we started to struggle. I hadn't learned to deal with some of the mood disorder that still bothers me to this day (though I'm much better with it now). My parents split. We were in debt. And a girl who was a friend started coming on to me. She was the outlet I needed. I responded. But she was dating another mutual friend.
My best friend of so many years turned on me. I learned after the fact that he'd all but orchestrated my ostracism over this dalliance. Curiously, nothing ever happened with the girl. Sure enough, she turned her back on me too. I nearly killed myself. I don't mean figuratively.
When he reached out to me a few month ago, he explained that one of the biggest factors was jealousy.
We've exchanged many emails of those times and more recent ones. While I am sure I will forever be conflicted by it - nobody has ever come remotely close to wounding me as deeply as he did - I welcome him back into my life in whatever role emerges. Returning to that dark time in my life was difficult to be sure, but I've decided that life is too short.
He's an attorney now, with a son, married to a physician. His life is good. My life is good. I am happy and excited to rediscover some of that friendship that informs to this day much of who I am.