My 14-Year Long Friendship
Growing up often means growing apart. But despite all these changes, I know I've always got my best friend in my corner.
(Courtesy of Piper Stuip)
California — My best friend and I have been friends for 14 years. We’ve gone to different schools for most of our lives. And at some points, we’ve lived hours apart via driving. But we’ve always been tight. Our parents were best friends. So naturally, we came out a pair.
We’re teens now, and we’ve both experienced the driftiness of adolescence. During this time fleetingness is expected — no matter how gutting it can be.
On my own, I’ve moved in and out of friendships and opportunities, houses and phases — but I’ve always had the same confidant.
We’ve contrasted in style and taste. She’s always been more daring, which I’ve tried to recreate in my own way, but I’ve always been that kid unable to drop her foot at the top of the ramp.
Even though I’m the older one, I sometimes worry I won’t be able to keep up. But in the end, it never matters, with a joke and a wrestle she and I can always get the ball rolling — and that's really all I can ask for.
Piper Stuip (she/her) is a high school sophomore at Oakland School for the Arts focusing on creative writing.
Edited by shaylyn martos