Friendship has a tendency to
creep up, surprise you,
like a sly shadow,
an instinctive matchmaker,
storming the concrete walls you’ve built
around your fleshy, vulnerable,
naked heart.

You're sitting in class one day,
cracking sarcastic comments,
talking about nothing important at all,
chipping away at the façade
protecting your vulnerable ego,
your mutual indifference
building bridges…

Or you're sprawled in someone’s basement,
laughing rambunctiously,
ignoring the Life pounding at the door,
exploring the dreams
clouding the depths of your mind,
cracks climbing along the edges
of your stone exterior..¬¬

Or you're caught in a moment of weakness:
slippery dew drops
dripping from
your bright eyes,
phony grin
plastered on your face, and some
intuitive soul notices and extends an
open palm
to pull you out of
the kiddy pool you're
drowning in…

And in a blink:
jigsaw pieces snap into place,
stars align,
¬and it’s clear that
shrewd Friendship,
once again,
shattered your
defensive walls.