I was in the mall with friends
when I saw you there
and I felt my heart warm.
You were rushing by
and barely even saw me
before I slapped your shoulder
the way I used to.
You turned instantly
and your eyes lit up
when you saw it was me
who had hit you.
You and I
had been through the mill
a few times over the past
few years,
yet our friendship remained,
and was steadfast against time.
I hadn’t seen you in months
but seeing you there
gave me the greatest joy.
You spoke of Vietnam
and how you’d been mugged,
but you laughed it off.
That’s what I’d always admired
about you.
You always found a way to laugh and smile
despite life’s actions
against you.
Before we said goodbye
at the end of the sudden reunion,
you said,
“It was really good to see you,”
and it was then
that I realized how much I truly
had missed your presence.