We May As Well Be Strangers.

A poem on brotherhood, and missing a dear friend.

When we were kids, he was my best friend

No, he was more than that, he was my brother

But now I can’t say for certain if I’ll see him again

That’s how it seems to go, one after another

We may as well be strangers.

I know not everyone is like me

We all see life through our own lenses

But if I may speak candidly,

I hate that you’ve put up these fences

Because now we may as well be strangers.

It makes me sad, man!

At times you’ve looked up to me

At times I’ve been your biggest fan

What will it take for you to see?

It’s a shame, but we may as well be strangers.

Regardless, I hope life is treating you well and fine

I know you’re busy, we all are—

Just know that I’d make the time

Brother I’m busy too, I’ve come so far

For now, we may as well be strangers.

And that’s what hurts the most

Because I just want the people I love to care

To show an effort; unbecome this ghost

My friends are family; always willing to repair

What’s been lost in time; we may as well be strangers.

Just remember, brother…

If you called me today, or twenty years from now

I’d embrace you, because you’re my brother

But until then…

We may as well be strangers.

--

I wrote this about someone specific, but it actually refers to quite a few people in my life who I've lost contact with. Relationships are a two way street and unfortunately I've been putting in way more effort than some people who, at one point in my life, were very important (not to mention, it was mutual).

I don't hold a grudge or take it personally. But at the same time, it does hurt when you put in effort, texting or calling someone, and they don't reciprocate.

I understand life gets in the way. I can be a better friend to a lot of people. I genuinely try my best to cultivate and maintain friendships as much as possible. I'm an introverted extrovert, I can't help but keep to myself, even when I know I probably shouldn't.

Regardless, this poem is about brothers becoming strangers. Life and time simply getting in the way. It's sad, because it doesn't necessarily have to be that way.

For me, I'm an only child, so I take my friendships seriously. I consider my close friends family. When I don't feel that same love in return, I let them go. I, of course, have put in an effort to reach out, try to grab lunch, whatever it may be, but more often than not, plans either get cancelled, postponed, and ultimately get forgotten.

And maybe that's the hardest part: being forgotten. Not being needed. Things don't stay the same, that much we know, but isn't that the point? That, regardless of what happens, I know one thing's for certain: I've got my brothers.

It's also hard when most of these people have siblings and other people in their lives that, most likely, are more fun and exciting than I am.

Nevertheless, as I mentioned in the poem, I'll always have love for these people. It's just that...I can no longer put energy into thinking, what did I say or do wrong? Did something change? What can I do to fix it?

Frankly, if they want to reach out, they know how to find me. And I'll always welcome them with an open heart. In the meantime, I'm simply going to continue living my life and be the best version of myself.

-JTC