If what they say is, "Nothing lasts forever,"

Then what makes

Then what makes

Then what makes

Then what makes

Then what makes

Love the exception?

- Outkast, "Hey Ya"

It's a strange and lonely thing to watch someone you love becoming increasingly passionate about and involved in something entirely separate from you. Not that you dislike it. It's actually really sweet and inspiring to see so much excitement and fervor and impulse for good--but it's an issue and an arena you know nothing about, and so you can't engage at all, can only stand far away on the sidelines. Try to be supportive and encouraging and nod and smile, but at the same time worry that your lack of knowledge and understanding and, ultimately, interest will drive the two of you apart.

It feels like starting college again, and seeing everyone go off and find their own niches and start off on their lives. Seeing your best friends make new best friends that you don't know is unsettling. It's good and happy, but there's a dissonance. And you grow apart from people you never thought would be anything but your other half. It's inspiring and lovely to watch people grow up and find the places that fit them, but when those places don't also fit you, it hurts.

And you can't be honest about any of this, not even in an off-handed comment or moment of venting, because above all you must be supportive. You feel out of place trying to hitch a ride on the back of the bandwagon, but you're afraid that any hint of hesitation will lead to you being left behind in the dust.

Leaving people is something that happens. You know that. But not yet please please not yet.