She locked her bedroom door, slid the Like a Virgin cassette into her sticker-adorned boom box, and pressed play. The catchy tune of “Dress You Up” filled the room, and we danced until our legs felt like jelly. Pink ballet tights were wrapped around our chests, stuffed with socks, and we adorned ourselves with necklaces and charm bracelets, taking turns with the one Madonna glove we shared. We were lost in our rhythm, dancing and singing, completely in our element.
We met in third grade and quickly formed a bond that felt almost magnetic. We exchanged notes and eye rolls during class, wandering the playground deep in conversation. Our weekends were filled with sleepovers, becoming honorary members of each other’s families. We confided our dreams, fears, secrets, and the ups and downs of growing up.
When I got my period at just 10 years old, she was the only one aside from my parents who knew. She would stand guard outside the school bathroom while I discreetly disposed of my maxi pads. We were each other’s confidantes, knowing the tiniest details of our elementary crushes. There was that one boy we both liked briefly, but the jealousy was short-lived; she had kissed him lightly, while I sulked for half a day, and soon after, he stopped talking to both of us.
In sixth grade, we attended our first concert together—Madonna’s Blond Ambition Tour. Despite our terrible seats and the fact that we could barely hear anything, we danced like we had in her bedroom years earlier, filled with joy and abandon. It was a rite of passage, and experiencing it together made it all the more special.
The summer before seventh grade brought a heavy heart as I moved from California to New York. The sadness was palpable; she sent me letters from camp, filled with ink smudged by dried tears. We tried to keep in touch, but the whirlwind of middle and high school swept us into different directions—boyfriends, breakups, and college beckoned.
She eventually moved to New York for college, spending some years there afterward, but even with the same city as our backdrop, things weren’t quite like they used to be. We had grown, taken on new responsibilities, and life had changed us.
Still, we remained connected, always aware of the significant milestones in each other’s lives. Recently, we reunited after several years apart. I made the long journey back to California with my husband and our two boys. When she picked me up from my dad’s house, the moment I closed the car door, we erupted in giggles. I had a glorious hour away from family obligations, and she had left her sons at home. It felt just like old times—locking ourselves away from the world, huddled together in the schoolyard.
As we walked to the coffee shop, she asked how my visit with my dad was going. With my other friends, I often hold back, but with her, I spilled everything. She understood my history—the joys and the pains—and had been by my side through my parents’ divorce, the custody battles, and more. Within five minutes, the tears began flowing.
She held my hand as we transitioned from discussing family and responsibilities to laughing at a ridiculously priced pair of boots in a shop window. We reminisced about our childhood, delving into our deepest desires and fears without any superficial chatter. I watched her familiar blue eyes well up with tears as we took turns crying, sipping our coffee and allowing the memories to wash over us.
Before we knew it, the time had come to part ways. Saying goodbye was tough, and we promised to stay in closer touch, knowing how challenging it would be to keep that vow amidst our busy lives filled with children, marriages, and work commitments. Yet, we both knew that your first best friend is a friend for life. Regardless of how long it takes until our next reunion, it will always feel like no time has passed at all.
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In summary, friendships formed in childhood can withstand the tests of time and distance, reminding us of the joy and laughter that once filled our lives. Despite the challenges of adult responsibilities, those connections remain vital, offering comfort and intimacy that can be revisited at any moment.