Friend

I was watching the last few episodes of the show "Friends" today with my roommate. It made me wonder about friendship, and what it truly means to be a friend. Does it mean staying up late quizzing each other in the library until the sun comes up? Is it bringing them a bowl of soup and helping with homework when the other can't raise their heavy, snot-filled head from the bed? Is it holding back their hair as they relieve their stomach of the alcohol that only hours earlier made them lose their inhibitions and finally talk to that boy they've been eyeing? Or is it comforting the other as they cry on your shoulder about the boy who swore he would call and didn't? The one who they thought was "the one" and who said he would be there forever and always. The one who puts you through hell then comes back to you on a white horse, dressed in shining armor and a halo promising everything would be different now. When inevitably a few months later the cycle continues and the crying starts all over again. If you ask me, it's all of those things. I can't give an example of one time when I wouldn't want to be there for one of my friends. My friends are my family. It is an unconditional love. No matter what they do, things they say, or how they may feel- I will always be there for them. The way they are there for me. After my breakup with my ex-boyfriend... well after all 3 breakups, my friends had my back and supported me through every decision I made and action I took. Despite the fact that this was the third time he has left me out in the cold, they understood my pain. I don't believe I would have gotten through this last time if they were not around giving me advice and voicing their opinions. So I am writing this to all my friends and all those who were there for me when I needed them. To those who have wiped my tears when I didn't have the strength to lift my arms; rubbed my back as I weep over the 'what-could-have-beens' and 'only-ifs'; and argued all the reasons as to why he was not the right one for me, forcing me to believe something better is waiting around the corner. Although my prince is not here with me right now, and may not be for a while... for the time being, I have my friends. I have my girls. You are my rock- keeping me from teetering off the edge, sending me head first into the mud. For that, and for keeping my head above water when all I want to do is sink to the bottom... I thank you, and love you.