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This is a really funny story. Five minutes ago, I was searching through channels trying to figure out what to write about tonight. My ex is sitting right next to me and I asked her what she thought would be a good topic for this evening. The moment the words came out of my mouth this title came up on the list.

After a very painful breakup and almost three years of sniping at each other my ex became my best friend. Some may think that's strange and many have doubted it could happen but it makes perfect sense if you just take a moment to consider it.

We first met nine years ago through a personal ad in the Boston Herald. Neither one of us had ever tried dating from the personal section before but we both had really busy careers and no time or patience for the bar scene. After exchanging some basic information by phone we met in a restaurant for lunch and hit it off right away.

After a few months of dating my life situation changed dramatically and I found myself in a position where I had to move. She agreed to let me move in with her.

We spent the next two and a half years living together and pursuing our busy careers. As a unit, we did well financially and managed to live a comfortable life. My family loved her and her family loved me so holidays were always a joyful time for us.

In early 2002, almost three years exactly from when we had met, we were doing over $1000 a week in cocaine between the two of us. The bills weren't getting paid and we were going quickly down the path of destruction and possibly death. I knew that I had to leave or I was doomed.

I broke up with her and I got clean. Two months later, out of spite, she got clean and we have both been clean ever since thanks to a wonderful program known as Narcotics Anonymous.

For the first three years we went to separate meetings even though we lived only a few miles apart. By this time we were also working for the same company and she was transferred to another office so our relationship, which had become a feud at this point, wouldn't affect our work.

On March 15, 2005, she celebrated her three year anniversary in recovery. I was the main speaker at the meeting. On March 28, 2006, my father died and she was there to support me.

Today, we are living together as roommates and have an unbelievable friendship. Recovery, communication and our intimate knowledge of each other have brought us to a place that we never imagined could be possible. We don't have illusions of re-igniting our romantic relationship. We tried that in year four and it didn't work.

She is my best friend. We have been through good times and bad times together and we have walked through it all and forged an unbreakable bond that I will be forever grateful for. When we were dating we used to talk about spending the rest of our lives together. Today I am certain that when one of us leaves this life to go on to the next the other will be there to ease the passage. That's what true friendship is all about.

Learn more about this author, Kevin Flynn.
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