Then I heard your heart beating.
You were in the darkness too...
so I stayed in the darkness with you.

- Florence + the Machine, Cosmic Love

-+-

Phoenix, AZ.

Heather described, "There are some people where you can be apart for months or years... you can be apart for a really long time, and when you're together, you pick up right where you left off like nothing happened."

I turned to Jacob with what I can only describe as urgency.  I knew that we were down to our final hours together before I would have to fly away to San Diego.  I could feel my heart stuck in my throat.  I couldn't pinpoint my emotions.  Dread?  Fondness?  Longing?

I told him, "I think you and I have that."

He nodded, "Every time we see each other, it's exactly the same."

-+-

"Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief."

-- Swedish Proverb

While my own mind is discombubulated, finally regaining my awareness of the people around me has been rewarding.  Not even necessarily because it's been a while since I've enjoyed their company, but because I am realizing, "My dear god, we need each other."

She broke up with her boyfriend.  He was dumped by his fiancee.  He is battling depression.  She is fighting loneliness.

I don't know how often I reassured various people throughout the week, "I'm here for you."

It's strange to see hardship as a silver lining, but our mutual tribulations give a sense of solidarity -- even if I don't necessarily tell them about the empty tummy feelings and sad french fry cravings on my side.

None of us are alone, and that's incredibly satisfying.  Maybe I should be more worried about everyone, but I'm not (although considering my history with stress-induced illnesses, that's probably a really really good thing).

That's because I know we'll stand together.