Nine years ago today, you saw me at Pier with my boyfriend at the time. But I didn’t see you. And after meeting you, and you telling me that odd fact, we managed to build an amazing friendship. That fell apart six years ago. And to this day, I still wonder why. I still wonder why I can’t call you on the days I just need to hear your advice. And at the same time, I wonder why do I still feel that way? It’s been six years since we’ve had a real conversation. I don’t even remember what our conversations were like, it’s like having a hazy memory where you get the gist of it, but it doesn’t really make much sense.

Remember that night when we were at the ferry building with Sam and Paco? And remember how you told me you always wanted me in your life and you said if I ever wasn’t in your life you’d think to yourself “I’m glad that bitch is out of life, MAN! I’m an idiot…” do you still feel that way today? I highly doubt it, but it’s fine. We were kids, seriously what did we know?

Like a friend of mine had said recently, thank you for being my friend THEN. But this is now, not then. I’m not zel anymore. I’m nothing like her, actually. And I’ve never been so much happier since I dropped her. Zel is dead and gone, and so are you.

So goodbye, to the best friend I never wanted to let go. But today, I realize, I need to. Because too many years have passed and even if I had seen you today, what would I say? The truth is, I don’t know you anymore. And the truth is, you don’t know me at all.

And to be completely honest, as much as I hate to say it… I’d rather we keep it this way.

Oh Fourth of July, you’re always full of surprises, aren’t you?

Of course, if you know me, you’ll know I keep blogs and journals as if it were oxygen. And writing a novel that closely resembles my past… of course I turn to my blogs when I’m stuck. But reading over those days, trying to re-live them in my head… I can see them, I can hear the conversations but I don’t feel anything anymore. I can’t grab the emotion I need to finish this chapter. No matter how hard I try. Ask me 8 years ago to tell you what heartbreak feels like, I wouldn’t shut up. Ask me today, I couldn’t answer you. Because I don’t know anymore.

And I thought, I’d be happy. The day that I’d wake up and realize that feeling was FINALLY gone. I’d wake up and not wondering where you are or who you’re with or what you’re doing and I’d be happy. I’d be free of you. I wake up today, and every other other day for the 6 years and I am finally free of you. And I’m happy that I am, but I lost that emotion. The one that drove all of my best writing and creativity. Who woulda fuckin thought.

I still feel heartbreak, but it’s not exactly the same as before and it doesn’t last nearly as long. There’s nothing unknown as far as my love life goes. I literally crashed right into my “amazing person” earlier than I expected in my life and he’s not perfect but he keeps me dizzy with his touch, his kisses make everything go away and his hugs make me feel, for the first time in a long time, safe.

I’m no longer reckless (unless you hand me a credit card with no limit and tell me to shop til my heart’s content, then we’ll have a problem). I’m the responsible wife. I rely on my Wicked year planner and my Palm Pixi calender to keep me on track. I’m no longer careless or free, at least… free in the sense that I want to be.

So why did this person who never takes no for answer, who was her own independent person her whole life, who has some weird strange addiction to men… get married?

To be completely honest, sometimes… I wonder the same thing. Why did I give up the things that satisfy me… up? Because when I look at him, I couldn’t imagine myself being happier with anyone else. When I look at him, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I had ever hurt him.

And even now, 6 years later and married… that thought still scares me. I don’t give a shit about any boy’s feelings. I don’t care enough to stay faithful! But I have been, for 6 solid years and sometimes I amaze myself because I’m not this sweet, caring, organized person who is willing to care for someone else and sacrifice the things she wants to make him happy. But I am, I am for him.

And his smiles, they make the fact that I’m not who I use to be… the fact I can’t go back to who I use to be… worth it.

And what’s even better? The days I struggle with craving that freedom, that recklessness… I’m free to tell him and he won’t look at me any different. Instead he’ll give me a hug, a kiss on the forehead and say “you’re fine, silly face”.

I dont dwell on my past half as much as I use to, in fact a lot of my past is a blur. But certain songs still bring up certain people, certain days, certain feelings. And sometimes, its a refreshing blast of memories. Like on a cold November night like this one.

In every life there will be one great love and one unforgettable heart break.

November was never a good month for me, majority of my break ups happen in November. My “unforgettable heart break” happened in November. I can deny you all I want, but no one hurt me as much as you did. And I cant figure out why, besides that I was young and stupid. You were a pretty decent boyfriend, a push over but decent. But everyone needs to feel the pain you gave me, its a big part of who made me who I am today. And I happen to like who I am today.

Moving on… I’m getting married. Wow. Me. Getting married. Never would had thought. Sure we’ve been together for almost six years (wow, six years, really?) but I just never really saw us getting married. I’m a lot like Ben Affleck in “How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days”. I figure we’re happy, why ruin it by getting married. And sure, I still think that. But a small itty bitty part of me is actually kinda excited. Shh, dont tell Martin I said that. I always thought that once you get married, or engaged, the past kinda just… disappears. You dont think of the past or what-could-had-been or why-did-that-end. Why I thought that is beyond me.

I guess I’m lucky. I’m lucky because my fiance is my best of all best friends. Literally. We talk about my exes, we talk about his exes, we try to figure out why our past relationships failed. We have real conversations about things like that. He knows how I feel about all of my exes, he knows the ones I wish I was still friends with or the ones hurt me. And he does what I always wished someone would do with that information. He uses to know who I am and how I am. Not against me, but as a better understanding of how I react to things. I’m lucky because in the last six years, he was able to figure who I had a crush on. At work, at school, to him it was so obvious. And he’d pick on me, not in a jealous boyfriend way but in a ooh-I’m-telling-him-you-like-him way. And sometimes between us, its just so easy to forget we’re together. Because the majority of the time, we dont feel like that. We feel like two best friends hanging out.

Words can not express how lucky and blessed and happy I am to have him. To have someone who’s just like me. Who sacrifices just to see a smile on their face. To spoil me with hugs and kisses and my favorite food “just because”. Who accepts every part of me, and who is completely in love with the tomboy side of me. Someone who’ll watch me put on lipstick, wipe it off with his finger, kiss me and whisper “you dont need it”. Someone who makes me feel so damn alive. He wont ask why I’m crying if I dont feel like telling him but he’ll hug the hell out of me until I’m spent, tuck me in bed and kiss me on the forehead and tell me to sleep it off.

I think back to exes and memories and the crazy fucked up crap you go through with them in high school and relationships that ended far too soon. And the boys I miss. And I look at him and I’m glad those relationship ended. I’m glad for all the fucked up crazy shit I went through. I’m glad I got kicked out school. I’m glad I had to repeat senior year. I’m so glad. I’m so glad to be here, with him. With this ring on my finger. With that ring on his.

I love you. I love you a million times. In a million different lifetimes. I’ve always loved you. I will always love you. My dope friend. My best friend. My babemerding. A million thank yous. For just being you <3.