Everytime I visit my hairstylist, our conversation will inevitably steer towards a common friend. A friend, whom I used to be quite close to but have gradually stopped contact over the years. And now, our hairstylist is our conduit for “staying in the know” about each other because she also goes to him for her haircut. He’ll tell me how she is doing and what kind of hairstyle she’s keeping now. I believe he gives her a brief about me whenever he sees her too.

I didn’t bother to keep up with her after I realised that she wasn’t so keen on contact after I got married and had a kid. I’m not sure why, but perhaps she feels her single life has no place for my friendship?

And funnily enough after the last conversation with my hairstylist about her some weeks back, I met an old college mate in the same afternoon. Well, I was in a hurry and I spotted someone familiar. I believe she saw me too but both of us just walked past each other without stopping to say hi. I figured out it was pointless to greet her because I didn’t have much to say to her although she was a confidante at one point of my life. Nothing happened between us but she just veered herself clear of my path as soon as she found out I was dating.

Well, this is how it is. Values change over time. People drift apart for reasons unknown. Some friendships are not always permanent. But life goes on.