I've probably mentioned it before; people often come in and out of your lives for reasons. They're either there to teach you something or there for some sort of purpose, shape or form. Every so often, we're lucky enough to have one or two people that we know from the early days that stay with us throughout the rest of our lives.

This doesn't come often enough and understandably so. We change, grow, mature, develop; and it's not necessarily a bad thing to lose touch. It was nearly 20 years ago that we met in Kindergarten and I was already eating her snacks. Teachers couldn't stand the sight of us together; we were little terrors that wreaked havoc everywhere. From being suspended to passing too many notes to making little boys cry, we were a tag-team made in hell but nothing beats going through sixth- grade with somebody you could laugh, cry and share everything with.

And then high school rolls around and being in separate schools, different cliques, ambitions and goals leads to naturally being involved in alternate universes. Phone calls dwindle and conversation becomes scarce. We do manage to scrounge up a couple lunches a year at pho to 'catch up'. But it's hard and that's how people drift apart.

I'm pretty touchy-feely with people who reciprocate. I have friends whom I often proclaim my everlasting affection for; and vice versa. And then there are those that simply don't need it. She's one of those that I rarely go down that path with. We were friends since we were in diapers and even though we're not as close, we don't need that contant reaffirmation.

So when I hear you say you love me that's when I lose it. It's like you're telling me something in case you won't get a chance to say it again. And I can't handle that. I like to think of myself as invincible and I like to think of all my loved ones as well.

I don't know how to deal with death and I don't know what to do when someone I love is a.) so far away and b.) clinging onto life. Not being in control is not a strong point for me. Things were so much more simple when we got called to the principal's office for using the ouija board and scaring the entire class. Or the time we got the school counsellor to take us to Pizza Hut for buffet just for not fighting (with each other) for an entire month. Remember when I made the in girl in third grade step on dog poop and then blamed it on you? You still bring it up to this day.

It's almost ridiculous when I'm sitting here "living my dream" and whining about this and that, when you're at sick at home and going through treatments. Often times we forget about how lucky we are and don't remember how people are hurting every day. I haven't even touched on the one's dying overseas or the little kids that are raped. Just starting with the one's we love; the people that we see; anything and everything amongst you and I.

People suffer, everybody hurts. All it takes is a little bit of compassion, grace and humility to just realize that we have it pretty good after all.

Learn more about this author, Emily Chu.
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