When You Lose Your Best Friend

MM173 - Unlocking Inspiration/Storytelling

Thanks to SkiMe for the theme and though he said "I am not looking for the story “behind” the picture (the factual why, the when, the who…), but the story that speaks from “in front” of the picture," I think they go hand in hand.  So, here goes.

They weren’t always close, but he always adored her.  

Sumner was four and a half years older than Logan and she never let him forget that.  She was bigger, for a time, smarter, for a time, stronger and a better basketball player, for a time.  He looked up to her and though she disappointed him, he always held hope.  He always considered her his best friend.  

As they got older, she would give him little bits of attention, try to include him in her plans.  They were, however, different people.  She was the fun-loving, popular, very attractive young lady and he was the serious, not so social, awkward adolescent.   They were also alike in some ways, both extremely athletic and very deep thinkers, they both loved music and would come together over these interests.  As they got older, they had more respect for each other and could work together, especially against the parents.  

Then came the disease of substance misuse.  This was a game changer - Logan didn’t understand it.  Goals were very important to him and anything that would deter him from those goals were off limits.  He tried to talk to her, to understand and alter her thinking but maybe none of us knew of the demons that plagued her.  

His last moments with her were kind, loving and hopeful and then in a few days, quietly,  like a candle being snuffed, she was gone.  It is now four and a half years later and though some of the feelings have softened, the process more clearly understood, there are times when I know he is still dealing with it.  He finds ways to cope with the loss and channel his energies so that he accomplished what she didn’t, but in the end, he lost
 his closest ally, the person who had the same genes, the same childhood experiences, who could help him understand those parents that didn’t always “get it”.  

Enter Resilience.  He’s doing his very best at 23 years old and I think he’ll be fine, but the process continues.