When an ex-girlfriend pulled the plug on our much treasured group of 7, I fled to the Great Wall in my dreams. This trip came unexpectedly and was not meant to be. I needed a dose of serenity and prayed that the strong winds would blow her far away from us. Thankfully everything still looked the same up here. Changes could be so excruciating.
Grand. Arresting. Towering.
Scaling the wall’s steep, crumbling steps now brings new meaning after I withstood the pangs of adversity with my girlfriends. That was nothing we’ve ever encountered throughout our years of friendship.
It was shocking how much similarity our decade-old friendship share with the Great Wall’s history of more than 2000 years. Though some of the wall’s sections are now in ruins or have disappeared, it is still so appealing and attractive. It all boils down to its historical significance. Much the same, our history is priceless.
I was at Badaling. Thrown with an option of going either left or right, I took the route on my left which offers a more challenging hike up the wall and kept walking until it was not possible to walk any further. I thought that the steep mountain slope and torturous roads were awesome because it was these features that made it a stronghold. Yeah we are flawed and that made our journey steep and torturous as well. But what’s our weakness when our strengths could easily support and protected each other from harm.
Win was right. We’ve gone through obstacles together, not in person, but in our hearts. Our love proved bigger than any obstacle and dearest, I am so honoured and proud of this too!
(:
Building this great wall is not an easy feat nor it was done in a day. Though it is easy to take pleasure of each other’s company, we never had any difficulty seeing the point of considering friendship in terms of common moral commitments. Ling reminded me that though we are far away in distance, yet we commit ourselves to be always be close at heart. Friends are VERY HARD to come by. Good ones, even harder. Best friends for more than 10 years, fucking miracle!
I think best friends comes with an eager readiness, and an absence of hesitation. We shall have the courage to give advice with candour. With that common understanding, we can conquer any walls together.
Aristotle told me.
“such friendships are rare is natural, because men of this kind are few. And in addition they need time and intimacy; for as the saying goes, you cannot get to know each other until you have eaten the proverbial quantity of salt together. Nor can one man accept another, or the two become friends, until each has proved to the other that he is worthy of love, and so won his trust. Those who are quick to make friendly advances to each other have the desire to be friends, but they are not unless they are worthy of love and know it. The wish for friendship develops rapidly, but friendship does not.”
Point taken. Her unworthy reasons for departure has brought to mind a memory. Someone once told me that in friendship and relationship, those who possess any superiority must put themselves on an equal footing with those who are less fortunate, so these latter must not be annoyed at being surpassed in genius, fortune, or rank. As women, we were held to be more articulate and emotionally accomplished. Clearly, we must had been too overwhelming.
My hazy romantic visions has turned into a vivid reality just as the chilling winds wailed alarmingly. The Great Wall transformed into a red dragon, winding its way along the mountain ranges. The blustery sky cleared. I now have great better visibility and that’s going to make the climbing, even the steep parts, easier. I’m no longer dreaming.
We all are happy once again. Without her, things still won’t change. We are who we are and that’s what we love about each other.
I quote from Win “we will stand together, even more, even stronger than before. we’ve done it for over a decade. we can do it for another decade, and the next, and the next…. and so on.” and yes Elaine, you are my life too. I will make sure all your kids laugh over our silly escapades.
My ladies, cheers to infinity and beyond!
Many thanks to Amanda, Daniel, Sidney, Nicole, Marcky, Nic, David, Lina, Dom, Mel and Chiang Wey for the support. Y0u peeps are angels.
<3
Love you too sista
This is very poetic. Of tears are realised the beauty of one’s heart.
You moved me to tears of happiness. Finally everythin’s over
I did didn’t I? It was meant for you girls anyway.
xoxo, C
Wow.. so poetic ah.. but indeed good frens are hard to come by and to actually give up a long friendship sure feels like a break up.
Im going to say what I always say to my frens who just got dumped: screw it! its her lost. Dun pardon her when she comes back crying.
Thks hum peng for dropping by
Yea you’re right. But I guess let’s just hope she is happy with her choice. As for me and the rest of my girls, her departure may be a blessing in disguise.
why i’m not included!!
ev don’t love me anymoreeee?? sad laa.
and i wanna kaypoh!!
HAHAHAH oh well. of coz i love you. tell u when u buy me mee hoon kueh :p
Wow. I hope everything is fine. HUGS.
Thanks Sandar! Don’t worry dear, everything is good now. You know, our time at the Great Wall never fails to inspire me.