My wildest dreams include him, a living being who holds a significant place in my life. Primarily, our interactions are characterized by a shared presence in a moment, in the here and now, where there is no past and no future. This unique dynamic fuels my desire to see him repeatedly. Some of my unrealistic feelings and emotions mirror him; they come and go, each time leaving me wanting more of him. All I can do is ride them out like ocean waves and enjoy his presence as frequently as possible.
The distance between us is insufficient to keep us wondering how each other is doing. Presence is the culprit for bringing us back together each time. I wonder if he thinks about me as much as I feel about him. As a natural-born overthinker, I doubt it. No one in their right mind would enjoy creating never-ending storms inside their brain while attempting to take shelter from them non-stop. I could not help but allow him to touch me today; I told him much without a single word coming out of my mouth. He knows me too well; he knows me better than anyone else.
How can this be? We have only enjoyed each other’s presence a handful of times. Who knows, and frankly, who cares; some things are enjoyed only by presence and only in the present time. Some relationships cannot work in any other way. I must confess that relationships do not come easy for me. I outdo at blocking people before I meet them. This historical skill has been a long-standing tradition in my life.
We met when I was ten, just a short distance from where this photo was taken. Our thirty-six-year-old friendship remains intact because we have kept our distance and allowed our respect for each other to be a tremendous and necessary divide between us. He clarified that respect, tranquility, and peace were required the first time we met, and one should remember a lesson like that. This lesson and many others have shaped my perspective on relationships and the importance of mutual respect, tranquility, and peace.
Photos shape my life and remind me of that feeling of presence that I adore and need to stay alive and human. The person who took this photo without my knowledge did not realize capturing the presence of a thirty-six-year-old friendship. Everyone takes photos for different reasons or purposes only known to them. After seeing the photo, I could not help but conclude that, in this case, correlation equals causation. The photographer and my friend are analogous.
This photo is a testament to my relationship and presence with both.
Sometimes, we are left with a photo; sometimes, that is all we need.
