A Second Chance

Things were a lot different twenty years ago when I was in high school. I am sort of apologizing. A really sweet kid who was one of my closest friends, had been hinting around for a while that he wanted us to try stuff together.

Once when we were alone he got, well, let's say romantic with me. He was trying to fondle me and hug me. It got my heart thumping and I got scared. I was excited and aroused but I felt muddled about it all and told him to stop and said 'You must be queer.' It really hurt him and I regretted it right away but there was no way I could call back what I said. He said he was only joking around but I could see I had hurt him badly.

We stayed friends but he spent less time with me after that and had a new circle of friends pretty soon. It is something I have thought about a lot and I have always regretted the hurt I inflicted and the loss I suffered. Not many people get a second chance in life to amend themselves but I did.

We met by accident. Just about two years ago, we happened to both be called on a jury panel of a few hundred people. I heard his unusual name over the loudspeaker and knew it was him. I sought him out and we had lunch together. He considers himself gay now. I am married. I told him how much I regret the stupid thing I said and how often I think about it remorsefully. He remembered it very well, and said he thinks about me sometimes as well. Our lives have gone in different directions and no, nothing happened except we gave each other a big hug and mouth-to-mouth kiss before we parted. I guess the only point is life is short and precious and we should try to be kind to each other. PS I love this site!