I never believed in the popular quote that states ” Strangers can become best friends just as easy as best friends can become strangers” until one fateful day when I had a special, eye-opening encounter, when I stumbled upon a stranger I met on my way to work. I was not only on a physical journey to work, but I was also on an emotional, metaphorical, mental and spiritual journey of self-discovery, one that I could not have completed without my childhood best friend by my side…
…Before I get into a retelling of my encounter, I think I need to give a brief history lesson on a friendship that spanned over 16 years, but the test of time and distance and two continents put a strain on this friendship and caused a rift that appeared too great to mend. Zane and I had been friends from when we were three, when we met in kindergarten and became inseparable. We were as thick as thieves, but when I left Fresno, California for Hamilton, New Zealand, at the age of 19 to obtain my university degree, our schedules and the seven-hour difference caused a rupture in our relationship and led to us going our separate ways at the age of 20. I carried on with life and moved to Ottawa in Canada to pursue my dreams and work for the largest law firm in Canada, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, where I met the love of my life.
Zane had always been on my mind, and I had missed him but had done nothing about it and I thought that I would never see him again, that is, until the fateful day. While I was on my way to work, on a bright Wednesday morning, I noticed a young vagrant outside my office, with only a cardboard box and a thin, torn fleece blanket to protect him from the cruel elements in Ottawa’s harsh, arctic winters.
I do not know if it was the adrenaline, the pregnancy hormones, or pure curiosity, that led me to act upon my pity and approach the shivering figure on the floor. I did not think about the risks, but I bent down and placed an $50 into his tin cup and put my lunch next to it. The man looked up at me and had the most grateful smile I have ever seen on his face that warmed my heart. He managed to hobble to his feet. He took a step towards me and gave me a tight hug, before haltingly realizing how uncomfortable I got and taking a step back.
It wasn’t until then that I managed to get a good look at his face, and I realized that he had a scar on his left eyebrow that looked oddly familiar. One I recognized from my past. I assume he also only took me in then as well, because he cocked his head to one side and furrowed his eyebrows.
“Aphrodite? I…Is that you?” He mumbled, but it was loud enough for me to hear. I was in shock and could not respond. When the words left his mouth, I instantly knew who it was. As the realization struck, I became speechless and could only nod. A familiar smile crossed his face and his happiness was evident in his stance, voice, and glow on his face.
“It’s me, Zane; I know I have changed quite a lot from when we last saw each other…”
“Yes…I know it’s you…” I responded, both of us unwilling to state the obvious and discuss the obvious elephant in the room, regarding his current situation. Relief washed over his face, but realization drowned the relief as he looked down at his box and his clothes, and then he gestured towards my clothes.
“I guess we have a lot to catch up on,” he said with a nervous chuckle. I agreed and we made arrangements to meet up for lunch, my treat of course.
The entire day, I was checking my watch, waiting for lunchtime. As soon as the clock struck one, I dashed downstairs to find Zane waiting for me at the door. We began walking down the street and I couldn’t help but ask him how he had gone from the boy who was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” and was one of the most popular guys in senior year, to a hobo that wore rags (in less harsh words of course). He explained everything, from the moment I left, up until now…about how he ran away from home and moved to Canada, and lost everything, where he ended up on the streets and had lived there for almost three years.
I felt like the worst friend in the world, for not knowing about this and for not helping him. The thought of him having to suffer this much, brought tears to my eyes and closed my throat. I offered to help him with money, food, clothes and a place to stay and he aversely accepted.
I used my connections to get him back on his feet and we promised to never lose touch again, and we have stuck to that promise so far. It has already been 1 year and we are as tight as ever, he is even the godfather to my daughter. Whenever Zane retells our story, he says that if it weren’t for me, he would have never been the person he is today, because I saved him from the streets, but I know that the truth is that if I hadn’t seen him that day, if we hadn’t been reunited, my life would always be missing a piece, it would have a void that only he could fill…