A Chance Encounter

Have you ever accidently run into someone that you used to know really well but was no longer close to?

There's a moment of surprise. Your heart beats a little faster because, well, at one time they brought you happiness. There was a time when being in their company brought you joy and their approval meant something to you. For a moment you are genuinely happy to see them.

Then commen sense kicks in and you remember why the two of you are no longer close. The slight joy that had struck only a moment ago flitters away and all you are left with is panicked thoughts of how to get away as quickly and politely as possible. The two of you make awkward conversation that is hard to end. The awkwardness extends from the fact that all of their movements, quirks, style of speech is familior to you. You instinctively know how their head will bob when they emphasize a statement and how their eyes will widen just before they laugh. But it's like you are talking to a robot who moves and talks like that person you once knew so well. Because this person is no longer the person who they were when you loved them. They've changed. Or you've changed. Somewhere down the line they had let you down. Either way, your relationship is no longer the same.

It's slightly painful.

My training partner was with me when this happened this morning. It's always harder to go through these type of encounters when there is an outside third party present. Now you have to introduce the two people, one who you used to be close to and the other who you are currently close to. The lack of relationship is almost tangible. The third party can sense the slight tension and doesn't know whether her role should be to try and make things less awkward or try and hurry the conversation to a close.

So you make awkward conversation, laugh at how little things have changed and yet how much. You mentally decide to never go to that place again just so you can make sure you can avoid that person. Finally you both run out of things to say and go your own way.

As you walk away, your training partner looks at you and says " funny, that's not how I pictured your father would look like."