Comparisons

A friend called over the weekend. Someone I've known for a long time...he is the kind of person I can talk to at times like this and not pull any punches. I can tell him just the way things are, and, I'd like to think, he can too.

I told him about how I was feeling - the situation with Krissa - and how crap and frustrated I was feeling, and how I miss her so much that at times it can be like a physical ache. He listened, as friends do.

Now he is in a very different situation to me, and I'm worried about him. He's been with his girlfriend since university...they muddled along, got jobs in the city, and got a flat together around Christmas time. He seemed disillusioned with everything, with the whole deal he's bought into with his job, and his girlfriend, and their flat (which is a really nice place, by the way). Put simply, I got the impression that he doesn't like his life.

Well, I said, change things. You can.

He changed the subject and started talking about a couple we know.

I can't help it, most of the time now all I'm thinking of is Krissa, and so a lot of my conversations tend to veer her way. It was one of the last few things we said to each other.

It's hard, this life thing, isn't it? I said.

It is the way you do it, he said.

I started to laugh, but he went on.

But I prefer your way.