Angular Cheilitis and a Bit of Nostalgia

Angular Cheilitis: an inflammatory lesion at the labial commissure, or corner of the mouth, and often occurs bilaterally. The condition manifests as deep cracks or splits. In severe cases, the splits can bleed when the mouth is opened and shallow ulcers or a crust may form (Wikipedia)

So for the past week, I have had cracks in the corners of my mouth and my lips have been unbelievably dry. I've been applying chapstick at least 15 times a day. Nothing was working so today I finally sucked it up and went to the doctor in Fu Tai. Trace went with me because she also needed to see the doctor about something. I saw Dr. Thomas Naing. I was really surprised because he spoke English fluently and I didn't need Trace to translate for me at all. He diagnosed me with Angular Cheilitis (see above) and gave me some cream to put on my lips twice a day. He said, because it is a bacterial infection, my condition could reoccur again and, if it does, to come see him. I hope it doesn't because I hate going to the doctors, but at least it wasn't that expensive because I am a Lingnan University student. For the visit and medicine, I had to pay a total of 40 HK dollars (about 5 US dollars).

Doctor's Office

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So I have been thinking a lot recently about friendship. When I was younger, I thought friends were friends. It was just as simple as that. Then I started growing up. I lost one of my close friends to the popularity contest. Then another. And another. I saw other friends stop being friends. I saw people around me with lots of, as my roommate would say, "hi-bye friends," but no best friends whom they could confide in completely. I saw people with few friends, but they were all extremely close. I started to realize that people view friendship in many different ways and place different values on friendship. With this realization came an examination of myself and how I view friendship.
I have been best friends with three girls since I was very young. We've been close for over a decade and we call ourselves the Fab Four. We went through puberty, first boyfriends, crushes, heartbreak, death, college applications, and numerous other big events of our lives together. Then we went to college and the closest drive/flight between any two of us became more than 7 hours. Right now, we are on four different continents. I spent a couple hours this morning chatting with all three of them on Facebook this morning, which made me think about how much we've changed and grown up since we first met over 10 years ago. But, no matter how much we all change and how far apart we are, they will ALWAYS be my best friends. I will always be there for them and I know they will always be there for me, through happy and sad times.
I love you Allyson, Kelly and Rachel. I love the girls we were and the women we have turned into. Although we don't talk anywhere near as much as we used to, you guys will always be my best friends and I am always here for you.

I have come to the conclusion that I am the type of person who can have a few hi-bye acquaintances, but I have relatively few friends. My friends are the people who I can turn to in tears or laughing smiles. We completely trust each other and never betray. The experiences of losing so-called "friends," as well as getting my heart broken by boyfriends, has shown me that both kinds of heartbreak hurt equally and, perhaps, for me, it hurts more to lose a friend because a friend is supposed to be a constant. At this age, boyfriends tend to come and go, but friends should always stay. I place a lot of value and importance on friendships. I realized from an experience quite recently that I expect my friends to put that same value into our relationship and I get quite hurt when that does not always happen. This hurt was the catalyst that got me thinking about friendship and what it means to me. Sometimes, when you are struggling with emotions, it is best to write it and get it out of your head, so that is what this is. An expression of what has been in my head for the past view weeks.

To my friends, you know who you are, I love you all. 

I wouldn't trade my friendships with you for anything in the world.