December 18, 2009

When I first met Emma she was, to put it blatantly, a badass. She lived over the bridge, dyed her long hair black, wore jelly bracelets, had her eyebrow pierced, wore eyeliner and listened to screamo music. She sat in front of me in Kumar's class and the first time I mustered up enough courage to compliment her outfit, she looked up at me and said "Thanks." That was it. As high school progressed, she went on to get her lip pierced on the street of St. Mark's and tell me how she couldn't go to public high school because some girl threatened to kill her. I was afraid of Emma and absolutely intrigued. She introduced my high school to myspace and when I went to friend request her, her profile page read "Emmabean the Scene Queen." She seemed to be so far ahead of everyone else and I never imagined that by the end of a few short years, she would go on to become one of my absolute best friends. The reason I'm telling you this is because, it's funny how things end up changing. Change is weird because often it's slow and you don't notice it until you look back at someone like Emma and realize how much is different. Today, Emma attends an all women's equestrian academy college in Virgina. Her hair is her natural light brown. She listens to Sufjan Stevens and studies media. She drives a Honda, and hosts our traditional game nights in her dining room. The only reminder of her old self, is her lip ring, which has been downgraded to a small stud. Her dorm room is scattered with polka dots, and she shops at H&M. It may seem like she's become a whole new person, but she hasn't. She's still the same girl who hates roller coasters, dates Nick, and works in a library. She still hasn't pierced her ears, and she still hates feet. She still loves hummus, talks in funny accents, and laughs at poop jokes with Kristen. She's always been Emma, but lately she's just been a grown up version. It's strange how much things change. It's even stranger how much things stay the same.