My friend

I have a special friend who has been a large part of my life for almost the entirety of my adulthood. We share many precious things.  We have experienced a great deal and have come through a lot together. There has been the odd break in our friendship, a few misunderstandings, bits of anger, recriminations, trials and some tribulations. However - we have weathered all of these storms and our friendship is now strong and true. I trust this person implicitly and cannot imagine my life without them. Over the last few years this friend has supported me, laughed with me, held me while I cried, cheered me on when I've succeeded, helped me, comforted me (when needed) and taught me an enormous amount about myself, and has helped me to understand and find my place in the world, and (too many times to mention) they have helped me to reach for and find a bigger and better understanding of that same world. 

This person is extremely bright, forward thinking, accomplished and extremely successful. Like all successful people - sometimes they are attacked and vilified. I suppose that's just the way of the world. Sad, but true. 

The thing is - I don't like that - when somebody that I care about is misunderstood, their motives questioned, their integrity put on trial for all and sundry to judge. It's not fair and it's not right. That must sound quite naive - expecting things to be fair and right - but I still do expect things to be fair and right and get royally pissed off when they're blatantly not.

What matters to me is the truth about this person, and I see that truth all the time. I see the good things - and only the good things (that's because there isn't really anything else to see) - and they far outweigh and outnumber the fictitious bad characteristics that some people who have no true knowledge have imagined and then reported. So, if they would like to know the truth about this person - they need to come and talk to me. I'll put them straight.