I believe that every stranger comes into your life for a reason. I walk past hundreds and hundreds of people every day. Some are strangers I will never encounter again, and others can be friends, family, or even just someone I put in an effort to smile at. I find myself realizing that it is possible that someone can change from being a stranger to becoming someone very important in your life. The beautiful thing about strangers is you never know what kind of impact they will have on you; whether the person will be romantic or a friend, loving or backstabbing, short or long term.
I met this once-upon-a-time stranger about four years ago, during my freshman year of high school. This stranger, Taryn Gettle, started off as a water polo teammate, someone I was forced to see multiple times a day during practice. Becoming best friends with her was easy due to the fact that we have so much in common that we automatically clicked. By spending everyday with her and spending time together on the weekends, it did not take long for us to become so close. Who knew that this stranger would become such an important person in my life.
Our friendship is always full of new and exiting adventures such as random day trips to places like Santa Monica and Venice Beach to going skydiving together for the first time in San Diego. We can tell each other everything and anything, and I know that we both will always have each other’s backs. As the four high school years pass by it is now my last twenty-four hours with Taryn. Her new chapter in her life is about to start, as she will be in the Army starting a new life without me by her side. We pull out her black suitcase, check her very short packing list, and gather her belongings. Okay you need two t-shirts,” I said as I stand in her room and watch her pack her stuff in her tiny backpack.
Our time together is ticking down, making me want to curl up in a ball and cry. I can’t text, call, share pictures or have any way of communicating with her besides writing handwritten letters. I walk down from her room to her wooden stairs with her as I am already crying. I hop in her white BMW car and she begins to take me back to my house. We are listening to our favorite songs, bobbing our heads to the tunes, and attempting to be as cheerful as possible.
As the once twenty-four hours comes to my last five minutes with her, my heart sinks as I think about the idea of not knowing when I will see her next. I will never forget our last hug, as she is not one to enjoy giving hugs. I cry into her arms, knowing this is our goodbye. Taryn Gettle has made me who I am today. I am always my happiest around her, and she is always making me laugh. I do not know what I would have done without such an amazing best friend like her. Words cannot describe our friendship and how much she means to me. She is the one stable person in my life that has been there for me since day one.
I believe that each and every stranger that enters your life has entered your life for a special reason. When you make room in your life to let unexpected strangers in, you never know the outcome. My adventures with Taryn blossomed from being strangers to inseparable best friends. Meeting anyone for the first time, whether it’s a forced friendship, a family friend, or someone you randomly bump into, you’ll have no idea of the potential of that relationship. I believe and know that my last goodbye with Taryn will soon be a hello once again.
