We met in high school and clicked right away. We were inseparable—it was like we’d known each other forever; we were like sisters. We shared common interests. As we went off to college, our paths drifted apart, but that never really separated us. We could already picture ourselves at each other’s weddings, watching our children grow up and play together.
Then that moment arrived. I got pregnant. Even from a distance, you were the first person I called. I couldn’t wait to share the news. You checked in on me throughout my pregnancy; you wanted to know how my delivery went. I moved closer to you. We saw each other a few times, and then… nothing.
During my second pregnancy, I still made time to come see you and tell you the good news. We had a great time, some wonderful conversations, and then… nothing. Now it’s your turn to be pregnant—I know because Facebook told me, so congratulations! We’ve run into each other at mom events, forcing ourselves to say hello. Yet we could have had so much fun together. We were both on maternity leave—I know that because Facebook told me.
Even today, I have moments of sadness when I think back on our wonderful times together, on the moments our children could have shared, and even just how happy I would have been to meet your little treasure. Now, after a lot of tears, resentment, and anger, I want to say thank you. Thank you for letting me spend all those wonderful moments with my children. Thank you for ignoring me—it made me so much stronger. Thank you for not contacting me, because I signed up for mom-and-baby classes that introduced me to other moms who wanted to connect, which allowed me to make friends who are moms just like me.
By the way, congratulations: Facebook let me know that you’d given birth.