Blog 2: Brianna
For this blog, I want to share the story of my best friend. And to do that, we need to start at the beginning—how we met. I know many of you probably have heartwarming stories about meeting your best friend—maybe it was on the first day of kindergarten or during college orientation. Well, our first time meeting was a little different. The first time I met Brianna was the day before we left for an eleven-day cruise.
At the time, my mom was dating Brianna’s uncle, and her family had planned this elaborate cruise. Before we set sail, we drove up to New York to meet his family. That’s where Brianna comes in. She walked into her kitchen after work, and there I was—a complete stranger—standing there as we prepared to spend the next week together.
Trying to break the silence (and the awkward tension), I wandered into her room while she packed—or more accurately, while she tried to sort through the pile of clothes on her floor. As we started talking, the tension melted away, and for the first time, we began opening up to each other. Well, as much as two 15-year-olds could. Most of our conversations revolved around boy drama.
The rest of the cruise was spent getting to know each other better. But when the trip ended, I went back to North Carolina, and she stayed in New York. For a while, we only exchanged the occasional text. That is, until Brianna made the decision to attend the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
By then, it was my senior year of high school, and Brianna didn’t know anyone in Wilmington. Naturally, I offered to show her around. I was nervous, though. By that point, my mom had broken up with her uncle, and I wasn’t sure if we’d still be friends. It had been over a year since we’d seen each other, but as soon as we started talking, it felt like no time had passed. That’s one of my favorite things about our friendship—there’s no pressure to act a certain way. We both just know that we’re always there for each other, no matter how much time passes.
That year of school was tough for me. I had a falling out with my best friend of ten years, and school became a place I dreaded. But as Brianna and I started spending more time together, we became inseparable. I spent nearly every weekend that year at UNCW with her. During that time, I finally understood what real friendship looked like. It wasn’t about feeling guilty for not being able to hang out or being constantly excluded. It was about having someone who genuinely wanted to be around me—even if we were just sitting around doing nothing.
I could go on and on about all the amazing memories we’ve made together (and I’m sure I’ll share more soon), but I want to focus on something I’ve taken away from my friendship with Brianna. If you read my first blog, you know about the loss of my dad and how it shaped my perspective on life. I don’t know if I fully believe in fate, but I do believe everything happens for a reason.
If I could bring my dad back, obviously I would do it in a heartbeat. However, if my mom had never dated Brianna’s uncle, I wouldn’t have met my best friend. Sure, you could argue that we might have crossed paths at some point, but we lived ten hours apart until just three years ago and even then the possibility is unlikely.
I truly believe that my mom dating Douglas wasn’t just a coincidence or a meaningless relationship—it was a connection meant to bring Brianna into my life. While their relationship didn’t last, it set into motion a series of events that led me to my best friend, someone who has had a profound impact on my life. In many ways, Brianna has been a light during some of my darkest moments, a constant reminder that even in the midst of grief and overwhelming hardship, something good can emerge. Her friendship has shown me that while life may take unexpected and painful turns, those twists can also lead to meaningful relationships and moments that are necessary to heal. Thank you, Brianna, for reminding me that even after hardship, there is still goodness to be found.
