Another Half Century

Starsky writes a letter.

The letter was started his first morning of freedom.

My Dearest Friend:

You know, when I think back, I always called you friend, right from the very start. The first moment our eyes met, we were home to each other, family.

And that has been something I treasured over all these long years.

Our friendship has crossed the barriers between two people. We have accepted each other wholly, honestly and without prejudice. Your wrongs were balanced by my insight; my anger by your even temper; the pain we each felt at times by understanding, compassion and tenderness.

Without doubt, we have loved one another and supported one another for all these years. It doesn’t seem possible that so many years have gone by, but here we are taking one step closer to our “golden years”, and, thank god, we are reasonably healthy and happy.

I don’t know quite why I’m writing this now, but somehow it has caught up to me: the lying all these years. At the time it seemed the best way to handle it, as I never was too sure how you would react, and then times were different too and we had more than our fair share of troubles.

When I think back on it, I wonder how we stayed alive so long; by now we have surely used up our nine lives don’t you think? And there just never was the right time, or place, or colour of moon, or something.

People were always coming and going in our lives, and I always waited to see if you would find your someone special. You never did, did you? Neither did I for that matter. And now the fear that kept me silent all those years seems such a waste. What if, huh?

But I don’t think we’ve been unhappy, do you? We can look with pride on a career that has had its moments of glory, even sanity. We are respected, and some even call me sir! We have friends who have remained beside us for all this time and have helped balance the down side of the job.

We have lost a lot as well, but we survived and kept going. The last few years especially have seemed to draw it all together as a finished package to be proud of.

And today marks a new era. I am really glad you talked me into an early retirement. We both have too many good years left to waste them in a world that is quickly passing us by with all its high tech mumbo-jumbo. This was definitely one of your better ideas – life at a leisurely what-now pace has a glorious, free ring to it. Kind of like starting over with a clean slate. Which is why I am forcing myself to make this confession, even though I’ve chosen a kind ‘a cowards way to go about it. Guess I’m still afraid.

What I should have told you years ago is that I love you; no, what I should have told you is that I’m in love with you. There, I said it.

If I hadn’t had your friendship, companionship and partnership all these years, I honestly don’t think I would have survived. Now, I want you to continue this journey of ours by my side, holding tight the whole way.

Whatever you…

His doorbell interrupted him at this point.

There on his doorstep was his future, packed bag at his feet. For several long minutes a silent conversation followed.

“You knew, didn’t you?”

“Always.”

A warm hug sealed a lifelong commitment, and they settled companionably and began to plan the next half-century.