Friends will be friends

My last days in Dalston were tough ones.

I had to say goodbye to some of the best friends I have ever had... and this surely didn't happen without a fair amount of tears.

It is not the first time I've had to say goodbye to friends. Indeed, just over 10 years ago I left France to study in London. I left the country confident that I would keep on seeing my friends regularly over the holidays. In reality things happen slightly differently as only a few friends remained close.

Strangely the people who stayed close to my heart were not necessarily the ones I kept in touch with the most, neither were they the ones to whom I was the closest to just before my departure.

Not many have stood the test of time, I still see a select few and it sometimes baffles me how we can pick up so easily where we left things even though we haven't seen each other in a year (and sometimes more). No awkwardness nor resentment, just comfort in knowing that true friends stay close no matter how often you see them.

I will miss my London friends so much. Right now I am certain that I will hardly lose any, but I know from experience this will not be true. I wonder which will withstand the test of time?
In the mean time I have made it clear that they are welcome to stay anytime. I also plan to see them over the  holidays. Hopefully reality will more forgiving this time round...