I believe it was January, maybe February. I am pretty sure it was 2007. This voice mail perhaps started a chain of events for that year. A voice mail with an honest apology, genuine regret and good intentions. A message asking for forgiveness and a continued friendship. A desperate voice, almost cracking, not knowing what else to do to correct a mistake.

I believe this voice mail was the start of a closer friendship. It came after about two months of complete disconnection. It was explained by a memory initiated from reading a book, but I believe it was more than that. I believe it was a feeling of some emptiness. I believe it was a glimpse of life that did not include me. I know I may sound conceited or maybe even arrogant, but this is what had happened. It was only a day after returning from a long trip out of the country, not even a day, and the first business matter to attend to was to fix this mistake, to reconnect, to rebuild, to reestablish and to secretly admit.

This is just a memory of a small event, that set the stage for an interesting year. A year of genuine friendship, learning, understanding, experience and perhaps struggle. A year beneficial to both of us. And a year of memories that can’t ever be erased.

And then there was disconnection again. Only this time it was for good. And this time not because of a mistake, but because of things being what they are. And so the friendship lives on in memory. And it will continue to do so.

“Thanks for the good times.”