My Life...

Standing at the entrance, I see before me a sea of red and black. Behind me are my classmates and more importantly, my friends. I glance around to see everyone’s reactions to what is about to happen. Looking to my left, I see my right hand man, my cousin, and my best friend. We have to stand side by side because our last names are the same. It has been like that since kindergarten graduation when we were paired up. Blake has always been the person to pick me up when I fall. If someone would feel the need to make fun of me, Blake would be the first one to have my back, even if I may have been the one in the wrong. Now we look at one another and can’t believe that twelve years has gone by so fast. This will be the last time we will ever stand side by side because soon we will be taking different paths.

It seemed like just yesterday we were walking through the doors of Plainview Public High School beginning our lives as rebellion high school teenagers. We might have both thought of ourselves as hell raisers but we were always the good kids, sucking up to teachers, never getting into trouble. Suddenly, the sound of music surrounds our thoughts and loud conversations turn into soft whispers that can be heard faintly. Waves of memories flood my thoughts of any worries away. Now there are only happy thoughts and a few tiny butterflies dancing in the pit of my stomach. I glance around again to see if any tears have begun to form in anyone’s eyes but I notice my friend Harrison right away. His abnormally tall height catches my attention from the corner of my eye, but my eyesight starts to get blurry because of the tears forming, making it hard to make out Harrison’s face. Quickly, I grab the Kleenex hidden under my gown sleeve and wipe any visible tears away.

I know once the ceremony is over, our lives will change forever. Blake and I have had our share of good times and fair share of not so good times. From the time I announced to the class during a science lab that we are not blood related…Blake is not my true cousin. To the many times we would laugh and laugh until our stomach hurts to something only we thought was funny. I think this is why we have a unique bond because family and friendship connect us both. Both bonds have roots that go deep into the past and can never be ripped away.

Now we are both in college, living the college dream without any limitations or parents to step in our way of a night of fun. We still talk on the phone at least once a week to stay up on the latest gossip spreading our hometown of Plainview or to brag about getting an ‘A’ on a history exam. There is always a particular incident to tell one another. Blake is the big brother I never had. Even though he is only a few months older than me, I still feel like he is much older, full of wisdom and great advice that you would only expect to hear from someone twice our age.