I spent 11 years without my childhood friend. Finding our way back together was staggeringly simple
The Guardian · Guardian staff reporter ·
I thought about her a lot after our friendship imploded. When our birthdays rolled around, I wondered what we’d be doing if we were still in touch
I was 26 when I lost my childhood friend. By that point, I’d known her for almost two-thirds of my life.
Our first conversation was at an ice-skating party when we were nine years old. I’d been nervous in the weeks leading up to the party because I couldn’t ice-skate. Every time the Spice Girls’ 2 Become 1 music video came on, the sight of Victoria Beckham singing on an ice rink filled me with impending doom. I was sure I would disgrace myself at the party.
But the party – and I don’t often say this about parties – was a blast. As it turned out, my in-line skating experience gave me some advantage on the ice, and I met a girl who was easy to talk to. I was a shy child, so I was struck by that sense of ease – how I wasn’t panicking about what to say or lurking awkwardly on the edge of a conversation. I can’t remember what we talked about. She was kind enough not to mention the fact I’d chosen to wear a dolphin-print sarong. We held hands and at one point she asked: “What’s your name again?” Apparently, we’d had so much to say to each other, we’d skated right over all the usual greetings and pleasantries.
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