When her parents separated, my family opened our home to her for several weeks.
Our mothers frequently joked that we were practically sisters.
And I genuinely believed we were.
Even as our lives changed, our friendship remained constant.
I married Robert, a thoughtful, loving man who became my closest companion.
Susan married too, but her marriage eventually ended in divorce.
When everything fell apart for her, I was there.
I helped her pack her belongings, listened through countless tearful conversations, and reminded her that she didn’t have to rebuild her life alone.
Because that’s what family did.
And Susan was family to me.
Robert welcomed her into our home without hesitation.
She joined us for Thanksgiving dinners, birthdays, Christmas celebrations, and ordinary Sunday afternoons.
Sometimes she’d stop by just to drink coffee and talk.
She even had her own house key.
She knew our daily routines, where we kept our spare linens, and which kitchen cabinet contained Robert’s favorite mugs.
