Relationships

Relationships are one of the most unstable aspects of life today, no matter what two people are involved. How you feel about something or someone can change within a day, an hour, or even a moment. Friends come and go, families get torn apart, and boyfriends never last. It's all part of life's cycle. And although we all wish we could do without, sometimes you never can.

The hardest part of life is letting go. Growing up in the same place for 17 years will give you friends that go way back. But guess what? Who you were 17 years ago isn't who you are today. People change. And yes, it's sad and hard to acknowledge that, but it's a fact of life. You can grow up with someone and at the same time grow apart. Why is that? Experiences shape how people are. Just because you've spent years with someone doesn't mean you've gone through everything with them. Yes you've been there for them when they needed to cry and someone to hold. But you can't understand how that experience affected them. You may think you do, because you know how you would react if that same situation happened to you. News flash: You aren't them so it doesn't really matter what you think. All you can try to do is just be there and help them through all the hurt and the pain, but sometimes that just isn't enough. Each of you goes your separate ways with nothing but memories left behind. And when that awkward moment arises when you do run into each other, all you have is "Do you rememberÐ'...?" and "I can't believeÐ'...!" and then it's over and you're on your way. You go back to your

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house and shift through your pictures and remember all those once upon a time's when you were younger. You laugh as you recall the time you both got stuck in the fence when the construction workers were chasing you out of the school. "Now that was a fun time," you recall. But college happened and of course you promised you'd stay in touch but then her parents got divorced and you had a new boyfriend and it was just easier said then done. By the time the summer came you didn't even know each other anymore. Maybe you weren't as good as friends as you thought.

The relationship between friends is a very complicated one at that. They are the people that may very well know you better than yourself. They've seen you at your best and they've seen you at your worst numerous of times. But sometimes things happen. Friends get jealous. That's not something friends are supposed to do. And of course when it does happen, it's so much worse than a non-friend who gets jealous. The friend knows you inside out and knows what hurts you. And pathetically, they're not scared to let the whole world know. All your trusted secrets can be ousted in a 5-minute phone call. The whole school can know exactly where you went Friday night after you finished cheering at the football game, which isn't anybody's business. But once that person feels you're "better" than them they get scared that they're going to lose you. Half the time that would never happen, but instead of coming to you with their fears they start sabotaging the friendship. No one wins. So much for friends.

Although friends can't be trusted, the one group of people you're supposed to be able to count on for everything is your family. They're the biggest support system you have. They're your personal cheerleaders. Or at least, they're supposed to be.

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Remember when you were little? Mom and Dad were your best friends. You told them everything. And remember your brother? Man did you hate him. Always picking on you and threatening to beat you up and making you cry? Of course, you think of that now and just shake your head. How things have changes since you were 7. Well maybe not changed, more like reversed. No you don't hate your parents, you could never do that. But they're not quite the "best friends" you once considered them to be. And your brother? Oh Lord, you don't know what you would do without him. He's your new best friend. Remember that time he found you and Lauren outside with a pack a cigarettes you stole from your