to have loved and lost

to have loved and lost is to mature!

   Ann was too sure that she would never loose her cousin and best friend, Jack. Jack was one of those boy-next-door kind of a friend, and yet, loyal to the core. Or so it was, was what Ann thought. Days went by, and further years of friendship bloomed, from childhood bonds to teenage, and then to youngsters. And Ann always believed that losing Jack, would never happen to her, at Jack's instance. An Act of God maybe, but never would Jack draw a close in the bond she held so close, of her forever friend. And then, entered Ann's new schoolmate Nina. Nina drew close to Jack, and as days passed by, Jack was too occupied with Nina, to find time for Ann. Ann still believed, that Jack had her in mind, no matter what. Until, in dire need one day, she asked Jack to accompany her to get her project details. The about turn in Jack's attitude, took Ann by surprise. What she had held so close to heart, Jack and the bond with him, was no longer hers she knew. He had outright rejected her request, and adviced and chided her to kindly leave him alone, as he had other engagements, far more important, to give her any of his valuable time. And later she learnt, that the engagements were nothing but daily chores, not so important he had attended to.
   Time had passed by, Ann had grown too common for Jack, for him to see she existed. As a matter of fact, she had turned mere a wallpaper, when he was behind the glitter of the new relationship with Nina. Ann learnt what every one does... that people, ALL people, grow out of relationships, and there maturity begins to the loser, who feels the loss of a friend. Well, in fact, Ann figured, further down the line, that the loser there is the winner; the one who emerges more mature from the loss, for in the next relationship she enters, she will watch and guard against becoming too common so that the glitter dont fade. That stronger bonds alone would not look for the glitter, but will value the common and old.