This is a topic that is fraught with undue amounts of pain and frustration. When we gain consciousness at 20 or so, we realize, fundamentally, that we are alone. — at least all thoughtful people do. Life then becomes an attempt to bridge the distance between other beings in our society and meet people who are like me

— who understand what I’m about. This is most certainly an arduous journey. At its most simple, friendship is something that must be earned. It cannot be simply acquired like a piece of clothing or a new pair of shoes.