Work Text:
They both shared the same look in their eyes. Both misted over with emotion. Both suffering in their own right. Him with the loss of a love, still alive yet pulled in a different direction. And her with the weight of expectations and pressure to be perfect.
They shared an understanding, simple yet strong. Both broken and yet still standing. However, Devoid of any real happiness. Joy has been foreign to them lately. A concept just out of reach. So close they could feel it ghost upon their skin before vanishing and leaving them hollow once more. Their smiles lacked enthusiasm. No longer the same people they once had been only years prior. Old photos reflecting children untouched by adult issues and the reality of the world around them. Now here they met again as adults only to no longer recognize the person in front of them.
He was no longer the kind and happy boy she simply knew in passing. And she was no longer the bright and confident girl he knew in passing. Now he was absent. A body, yes, but his emotions laid dormant. She still smiled but now it looked strained. And her voice constantly shook with urge to cry.
However, they both made an effort to try and relearn the person in front of them. one would talk and the other would listen. Then they would switch. The talker avoiding the watchful gaze of the other. Yet their attention remained steadfast on their conversation. It was easy to talk to one another. They understood. And when one didn’t, they were ready to listen and try to understand.
They were never really friends. They were friendly towards each other. They knew of each other, but never thought they would forge a connection with one another. They had spent most of their time spinning in the same social orbits , but only gave a nod or wave of acknowledgment before being pulled towards their rightful places once again.
It had been years since they had reached out to one another. An irregular message stating happy birthday or holidays being the only contact they maintained. She had tried and failed. Promising to call or message him more often, only to forget. He could have used that call. She was familiar, a sense of both comfort and unease for him. She had been around for so long and yet not there at all. And so was he. They had called each other friend and yet they were simply strangers, until tonight.
Their past selves would have to remain strangers, but their new selves would finally become friends.