Time Changes Things

Time Changes Things

There were a small group of friends like no other. They all were happy spending time with each other almost every day. As time made them older there friendship had grown, but then a dreadful title in the local news paper showed, one that none of them wanted to see, the title that can break families and shatter even the strongest of friendships. The title was of war once again.

At this point in time the bunch of friends are all grown up doing the jobs they wanted most of all, but upon seeing that title it shook them far more then any one else as one of them had to go and fight. The day he left them, they all made a promise to never change and stay the good friends they were then, to meet at the steps they all had sat on to await the bus for school.

Weeks turned into months and months turned into years, and after eight years of war peace had once again hugged the world as a mother does her child. Stepping off the plane onto his homeland’s soil he had expected to see them waiting to meet him with open arms, tears of joy, and the warmth of being with his friends once more. Since it was late in the day he just told himself, “Oh well...they might be having dinner or just now getting ready for bed. I can wait till morning.”

The sun arose to a clouded day, one that looked of rain and thunder. He walked to those steps to await them. He waited with all the joy in the world to see them again after so long. After waiting for hours he decided to go find them at their homes, or at least look in a phone book for them. He searched all day and into the night. Walking home he bumped into some one. Saying sorry and seeing if she was alright she asked in a familiar voice, “…J-Jake? Is that you?”

He took a closer look and saw some one he had left eight years ago. She told him that she hasn’t eaten in three days and that if she could stay with him for a while. Asking why he only got a tearful gaze and a tight hug. Taking her back to his place for the night he asked what happened to everyone. She had told he that a year after he left things started to fall apart.

One had died not in the hospital after getting into a wreck. The doctors had done the best they could, yet he died from what they called the “broken heart syndrome”. One had started having money troubles due to being a drug addict and had ended up going to jail after being caught injecting heroin in a back ally. His football team mate and star player ended up joining a gang. One day while he was just walking with his new ‘friends’ at night a drive-by happened, no one survived. The last tale she had told was how she became homeless with no money.

Shocked at what she had told him he let her stay and have the spot right next to him in the main bedroom. Beginning to cry again she fell into his arms bleeding tears of joy, the kind of tears he had hopped to see upon his arrival home, whimpering the words thank you.

After eight years of war, death, and total chaos he had remained the same, his mind untouched by time. His friends, tried as they might, fell victims to its cruel ways, for in the end no one is truly unaffected by time.