Time changes people

Out of boredom, I messaged a friend whom I haven't seen for years. Within seconds, I've got a reply. Hey, she's still alive! Carrie wanted to meet up and despite my busy schedule, I said okay. I'm just not the kind of person who shy away from such situations.

Carrie was the smart one and she was the cool chick in our little group. I was so envious of her sometimes, always a step behind her in grades. My essays were 2nd best after hers and my artwork was pinned on the board underneath hers.

Then I returned to Australia. Our little group did little to contact each other and pretty soon, we forgot about each other.

In my head, I was expecting a warmly enthusiastic chat session. Just like the time when we were fussing about which Carebears are cuter. Oh how wrong I was...

She still looked the same. Well, aside from a slight change in hairstyle, I could still recognize her from the crowd. There were some awkward greetings and more uncomfortable how-are-you-doings. I wanted to go home.

We went to have dinner at a restaurant instead. It was an hour of ice-breaking and the ice wasn't melting fast enough. Carrie seemed sad, as if life had been beating down on her. She didn't say much and when she did, her words were tinted with bitterness. She wasn't the same person I remembered. Then again, neither I am. I'm not the same mousy kid that got pushed around easily.

But what had happened to the girl? Turned out that she ran away from home and got married. (Gasp!) Some years later, she got a lousy job and a envelope of divorce papers. (Double gasp!) And there I was complaining about how sucky my life has been. Yeah, I can be so ungrateful at times.

No, the ice remained unbroken. We bid each other goodbye after that. We're such different people now and I'm not sure if we would meet again.