I just hung up from a four hour phone call with an old friend. While I would have detested that long conversation with most people this call was whole heartedly welcomed.
It’s funny how time froze and began again, right where it left off all those years ago the moment I answered the phone. Seven year old me had excellent taste in friends. If you had asked that version, I wouldn’t have been surprised that we had talked for so long, I would’ve been more shocked as to why we had let so much time pass.
Even with all of those years and all those miles apart, talking to her felt like coming home. There is something special about sharing your current life with someone who was so interwoven with its formation.
I walked circles in my bedroom as we excitedly discussed books we’ve recently read the same way we sat on my bed discussing different books over a decade ago. Girls with wings now changed to hunky bat boys, so much stays the same.
After a while I sat on the floor, phone charging, as we discussed the state of the world and it felt like our late night sleepover conversations. If I closed my eyes I could see the 14 year old version of her across from me, that laugh exactly the same. Years of memorizing those mannerisms I can practically see her expressions through the phone.
There were no long pauses to wade through, no awkward silences or long explanations. No backstories or understanding to navigate, we jumped right in. The conversations ran into each other, topics changing and effortlessly flowing into the next then coming back again.
The phrase “do you remember when…” vollying back and forth as we reminisced. It moved on from childish crushes into forever loves. Our lives; planted, blossomed, and grown from the same soil.
All those years ago we met at play practice and bonding over performing. Today we still continue those passions however slightly altered. Hers with self tapes and days on sets and mine with crowns and social media content.
We laughed, we shared, we gasped, we laughed to mask the fear of the future and we talked about everything. Four hours flew by in what felt like four minutes.
I wish I could pick up the phone and call the younger versions of us and let them know that not that much has changed.