Make This Go On Forever

When I learned that my friend David and his partner had broken up, I lost my breath for a moment and had to take a few seconds to gather my emotions. Even though they were an odd pair, I found them to be somewhat of a final statement to me that I would indeed one day meet someone and fall in love. Ah, such is life.

David had moved back to the East Coast to start over. I was somewhat disappointed that I did not have the chance to talk to him or to say goodbye. To explain, we had somehow fallen into separate corners. This does often happen to friends, and I knew that our friendship was not over. Maybe - I had told myself - we were just taking a little leave of absence as I had once told David that if we did not see each other for 20 years that he would still be my friend.

When I found out that David was coming back to town, we set up a meeting at my favorite restaurant in Seattle: Black Bottle. I remember that it was a really warm day. I put on my iPod and walked from my apartment on Capitol Hill down to Belltown where the restaurant was located. It was good to see him. It was nice to talk with him. I was excited and happy. And for the first time in almost three years, David and I talked. We talked while devouring flatbread and oysters and beer. He told me about the events leading up to his and Joseph's break up. I told him about me and JD. We discussed the future that lie in front of us and the romances that we hoped for. We discussed our lives with Seattle in the background - recognizing that the city was not one where either of us found complete happiness. David was trying to build a new life back East; I was preparing for my new life in California.

Time clicked by unnoticed and David and I ended up at Sonya's to continue our conversation. I added scotch to the equation. He took a couple of shots of tequila. I had remembered our times together from years before. He of such intelligence and poise; me trying to realize just how seriously I should take compliments. It felt familiar yet so new. I realized that somewhere between our last moment together and that evening we both had changed. A little? A lot? Hmmm? But it doesn't matter. That change signaled growth in both of us. A growth that benefits both ourselves as individuals and our lives in the places we choose to live.

Both David and I were scheduled to leave Seattle on the same day. I would be leaving for good, he would probably be back for work. We had gotten together once more before our departures. We went to see Inception and took a walk, still on the subjects of our break ups and our new lives. Then it came time to say goodbye. I usually hate long goodbyes and would just as well get it over with as soon as possible. It was no different with David. Only that time I did not know if it would truly be the last time I would see him or if it was only another leave of absence.

"Bye, buddy," I said to him before a manly embrace. "Let's keep in touch."

And with that, he walked back to his hotel and I walked back to my apartment to finish packing for my move.