The Summer Pact

by Emily Giffin

I often wonder what makes our coming-of-age friendships so powerful. I know the usual theories…. That they fill the void of adolescent loneliness. That they give us a sense of belonging. That they shape our adult identities. All these things are true, but when it comes right down to it, I think it’s a simple matter of who was there by our side, bearing witness to our loss of innocence.

Before I knew it, it was after midnight, and we had bonded in that magical way you hope will happen when you get to college.

“It’s not about trust. It’s about respect.”

“And remember there’s a difference between your history and your legacy. Your history is what happened. Your legacy is what you set in motion.”

In that moment, I realized how much we take friendship for granted when we’re young, unable to grasp its significance until later in life.

Our lives will never be perfect, nor will the photos we take. What matters is that we are all doing our best. We are showing up for one another, even when things get rough, and against all odds, we are finding our way to happiness.