Still Friends?

I stare into her face
and wonder if we’re still friends
We’ve known each other a lifetime
Grown up together
Laughed and cried together
But sometimes when I lean in
and I look into her eyes
I barely recognize her as someone I was ever close to

Tethered together always on this journey
But are we still friends?
We’re older (I refuse to say “old”)
Hair is grey
Face is lined from years of laughing
… and crying

I can’t escape her
and I so try to love her
But are we still friends?
And does she feel the same?
Does she recognize me?
Or even want to see me anymore?

We still spend time together each day
Although the moments are brief
Sandwiched between obligations and exhaustion
We used to sit together for hours
Smiling, laughing, thinking about our future
We would role play
and put on makeup
Brush hair
and practice being “grown up”
… until we were

And now I wonder as I look at her
Are we still friends?

Tori Burris Inkley
4/4/26