The Friend I Never Asked For

Transverse Myelitis Association
Volume 5 Issue 1
December 2002
Page 10

The Friend I Never Asked For
Cody Unser

Cody wrote a really wonderful essay for a school assignment. She read it at the California TM Conference this summer. I thought it was great and asked her if she would let me publish her essay in the newsletter. Thank you, Cody, for allowing me to share your inspiring words with the TM community.

I had become quite comfortable with all of my friends, and since I had known most of them from my childhood, I could honestly say I knew their good and bad sides like the back of my hand. When my mom took me to meet Jade on that bitter, cold December day, I wasn’t looking for any new friend. The day tasted like a stinging, rotten sour apple jolly rancher that would not go away. The first thing I noticed about her was how pale and rigid she seemed. Everything about her was mechanical, the way she moved and showed off. She had no color in her wardrobe. She dressed in nauseating metallic green. She definitely had a very high and strong opinion about herself for someone who was very ugly. She was relentless in trying to get to know me, which made me furious.

So, when my mom told me she was moving in with us, I was determined to get rid of her. She had to go everywhere with me, to the doctor’s office, the mall, even with me to be with my true friends who I really cared about. It was so embarrassing to go out in public places with her. She was clumsy, awkward and didn’t know how to act. She got in everyone’s face and tripped everyone up. I even kicked her one time out of annoyance. So, finally, one day I decided to confront her.

“What do you want from me,” I asked?

“I just want you to like me and let me be a part of your life. If you would just give our friendship a chance, I know we can do amazing things together,” Jade replied.

So, I made her a deal. For one week I would include her in everything I did and I wouldn’t judge her, as I would learn to become her friend.

That was three years ago. I now can say that Jade is the sexiest, most active, willful, out going, courageous, fun loving companion I have ever met. She lights up a room wherever we go. She understands me when I’m down. She lifts me up and takes me places I thought I would never be able to see. She pushes me out on the dance floor and shows me how to jive in my own atmosphere and paint the swift mood of the moment in slow motion. She taught me that even though our friendship was crucial, I could be an individual separate from her. She also taught me to never be afraid of whom you are and to never let it escape from your heart. Jade was more than just a stranger on the street; our friendship became more personal than just your regular hello. It was like she was inseparable from me and I was inseparable from her.

For some odd reason I became lifelong friends with this once ill faced immature girl. Or was it me that I was staring at, I didn’t know? Now, everything she wore was a beautiful vibrant silk outfit of a purple lime. Her daily outfits I appreciated through expression of our true beauty and what it meant to both of us. I know when she disappears in my life she will always be in my heart as my friend I had never asked for.

So you would understand why I was upset when my mom brought home Tony, my second wheelchair.

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