Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Promises schromises
We’ve talked about it, haven’t we? We agreed, and laughed on cue because we always think alike. We giggled at “what if” questions and answered as if the world depended on us. We laughed at the absurd images our questions conjured and at the impossible situations we created. The answers were different but the underlying facts were the same. We think alike. We agreed and made promises.
The circumstances then may have been light chit-chatting. But those light moments tend to be the honest ones. We open up, we let ourselves known to others. That’s when we learn about who this other person is. That’s when we let our guards down and lay out our cards. That’s when we either accept the other or realize that we are too different to become more than mere acquaintances.
During those light, honest moments, we talked about a lot of things. What we want, what would our choices be given certain situations. It sounded like we were firm on our choices then. I knew that when I shared my thoughts those were not just spur of the moment answers. It’s always clear cut from where I’m standing. And I know that when it comes to the time that these will be put to test, I will hold true to my word. I was hoping it was the same with the people around me.
It wasn’t a written contract but an understanding between friends. Supposedly a stronger bondage than whatever treaty there is between parties. It was an agreement based on trust and honesty, committing to something we know could either make or break a relationship when the time comes for choices.
It was clear cut. Up to now, it’s clear cut to me. But things are slowly changing. It’s a matter of many things important now for one fundamental thing—trust. Circumstances change and we know that the person who made that promise before is no longer the very same person faced with choices right now. And yet, who would make a promise to a friend without expecting to keep it? There’s no one word that can mend a broken promise. Not even a thousand words repeated over and over. No matter how small that promise may seem now juxtaposed to the bigger things happening in our lives. The fact is, it was made. And some if not all of those who were there making the promise were sincere about it. So the fact that answers easily change for some hurts a lot for those who’ve engraved it in stone not to break their share in the promise. It hurts that although we’re not bound to break our promise, we’re the ones who have to adjust and understand.
Friends remember. Things change. People come and go. Priorities may appear different now than before. But the fact that a promise was made remains.
I remember. Do you?
07/28/06
tweenkies_1106 at 6:09 PM