Friends. Seems like that is all Teenagers care about these days. Everyone calls it an obsessively pathetic phase within the Teen years. Friendships, an illusion? Or a string of hope that we hang on to? Are we afraid of isolation? Solidarity and the Single Life? 

There’s nothing more that I hate than people calling my friends “temporary.” It’s always been a casual adult thing to spill the truths of life and in other words, be honest with children. I think that the kid themselves should be able to get both bitter and sweet flavours of life in their timeline; don’t drop a teaser and leave them in the world of overthinking, which speaking by experience, has stifled my confidence greatly that I have constantly dig out several ways to say “Here” during roll call. In case my voice croaked or sounded too pitchy, girly, weird. This had become a habit. A weird habit.

Speaking of friends, they are either the ultimate blessing or a heart-wrenching curse. Forever? It’s a fantasy, an aspiration, I mean as the only young adult in my family, sometimes, I can’t bear to tolerate some of their quirks, it gets annoying. Yet, family is blood, and it happens, we forgive, forget and restart. This is not the same scenario with friends. According to mental note, give them less than a year to leave you disappointed or ghosted, if not, this may be going somewhere such as a rewarding and glorified title of a Best Friend, and if also not, be honest, they are just another seasonal acquaintance that you happen to follow on Instagram. 

Overthinking and Friendships put two to one, you are subconsciously analyzing a stranger when in their presence. 

I have always had struggles in maintaining friendships, therefore this may be the most sacred part of my life that I cherish with all my willpower. Who knows what’s gonna happen five years down the line, all I know is that you’re here, choosing to spend time with me. That’s when I just reason out to ignore labels to my relations. The more, the merrier. Them? Her? Him? Who cares? Just some people I know or at least try to know in this bewildering journey called life. We seem like a façade of illusions to one another, yet the title and trust of friendship make it seems like they mean of some importance to us, but not fully, not as much as a family, or you to yourself.

It’s probably all really complicated in your head right now. In this case, let me introduce you to ‘4 Cousins’ together, they would occasionally gather to chat, steal giggles, seated in a row on the dunes of the desert. With the green bottles of sparkling water in their hands they would feel spirited, youthful, fresh, wild, and slightly mature, as they stayed up all night. They each disclosed to one another comfortably, reflecting spirited energies like sun rays that would bounce back from a concave mirror. You could only imagine the teenage adrenaline in their caged hearts and frail minds. They spilt until they began talking about the stars, the night sky and the future. Worry, fatigue and an unknown, mysterious feeling hung in the air and they drafted asleep in the lingering but lost, solicit silence.

Number One had a sharp tongue with a wit strong enough to persuade lucifer at the gates of hell. They never sugar-coated any gossip and rolled in situations cautiously. Their thick skin would seal their inner wounds shut, something I never had a chance to understand why, this may have forced them to be rational and realistic whenever being buried under the burdens of life. One can be mischievous, they like adventures and a light head from time to time; with a burning temper, only you could experience to believe its side effects. You may keepsake trust, in exchange for their promises, defence and protection. 

Number Two charmed the room with their smile, a goofy nature and a platter full of secrets. The privacy of their mind provided a foundational base to an ever-growing phase of emotionless decisions. Their mask could only hide so little, clearly had so much to suffer through and worry about. Torn between non-existential nor essential choices and grew up cuffed onto some chains of life. Stronger than titanium, they stood taller than the rest.

Number Three grew up with sky-high ambitions, possessive with the people they loved and some more ugly things in between that just never seemed to change. Constantly bearing the expectations of strangers, they developed an identity crisis on the road to meeting the terms and conditions of society. I knew them better than anyone, and still believe that their nature of guilt and greed for attention and affection, fed off the other. Whether it be between people or big life choices, they never found the difference between big or small. Innocence made them a follower of the rebellious crowd who valued freedom, sailing with gullibility into the high tides of life. 

Lastly, my personal favorite, Number Four. 

They were the kind of person who would pour raw rubbing alcohol to a freshly cut wound with no mercy, you may think that sounds treacherous and insane. I like to believe it comes from a place of care, otherwise, sensibility. Their presence is silently peaceful at first, then comes the unexpected hurricane of breathtaking stories that leave you wondering if you can ever hold them down. Conversations begin to feel like a relapse as they slow your thoughts down with practicality. Their momentous disappearance and distance keep you waiting hungry, like the wait for the moon to take over the sun for a clear night. They can paint an oblivious mirage of bittersweet dreams or stay mutely numb to your ideas. Keep guessing the cause, you would never know.  

Their friendships experienced the joy ride of a carousel till all hell broke loose. Except for their faith in humanity and restoration of good. Let’s just say that a little hurricane did damage worth years of mending for these four. Together, they chose to take the bull by its horns and now are each turning to gracious opportunities at their door. They may have fallen together, but had they not chosen to have each other’s back through the downfall, none of them would have made it past the lasting pain alone. Such are friendships in disguise.

Compassion, kindness and loyalty are simply the words we choose to associate ourselves with when all we really do is wear our hearts on our sleeves and hope for the best of and for people. 

Our species are of such, that companionship is a great deal. If we put the same ideology in the 21^st century, our generation is facing a dynamic of relations, and the more we explore, the more we accept, good or bad, it all ends up as an experience. Even though trust, morality and manipulation tend to morph beliefs set by a standard government, society or even family, it is important to acknowledge that whether the person next to you is your worst enemy or your substitute therapist, we all are running the human race together and no man stands above the other. 

The end goal is to stick together till the end. So, take the time to connect, unite, share and take care of one another till forever falls apart.