The World Is An Even Stranger Place

Once upon a time when I was young, innocent and naïve, I moved from Oakland to Moscow, Idaho and I met two girls who would change my life forever. One’s name was Ava and the other, Caitlin.
The three if us hit it off and became friends.
Over the years that I knew them they lied, tricked and hurt my innocent little heart until I had made a complete turn around, on top of that my parents were getting a divorce and I was slogging my way through my teen angst.
By the time the dust settled I was what I am today; bitter, aloof, untrusting and jaded. Over time I healed but I did put up massive walls and masks so that something like that wouldn’t happen to me ever again.
And it hasn’t. The few that have gotten close enough to see what lies beyond the walls and beneath the masks know not to hurt me… they know I would hurt back and I had excellent teachers.
But now, three years later, Caitlin has contacted me… and she says she knows that what happened was her fault and that she wants to be friends again.
Of course part of my brain immediately scoffed at the thought of ever being friends with her again but then a wise voice spoke from the back of my head…
How will I ever heal if I don’t forgive? How will I ever grow if I don’t move on and let go of my anger? Hatred is one of the most tiring things to me and I decided that I was done hating a memory.
I replied to Caitlin and we’re starting again… we’re going to try to be friends again.