Meeting My Best Friend: A Journey of Connection and Shared Interests

Friendship is a precious relationship that evolves in various ways and at different junctures in our lives. For me, meeting my best friend was not a chance event, but a carefully woven tapestry of shared interests, mutual understanding, and time spent together. This journey reflects the multitude of ways people form deep, meaningful relationships.

From Bar to Best Friend

During my early years in a day bar in Switzerland, I encountered someone who would eventually become my best friend. It was a chance encounter, where a customer, a girl, expressed interest in going out with me. She was not just a customer, but someone who, after our initial meeting, piqued my interest due to her engaging conversation and mutual attraction. A few weeks passed, and we gradually developed a friendship based on shared interests and understanding.

Crossing Paths in Comfortable Retreat

The story takes a nostalgic turn when we look at my daily routines. I used to walk to work every day, and there was a regularity in my route that allowed me to observe and eventually engage with a person who followed the same path. Our initial conversation about seemingly mundane topics like our work route diverged into more meaningful exchanges. Over the years, we intentionally started meeting each other in the same places, appreciating the time spent together. This unstructured but meaningful camaraderie blossomed into a 17-year-long friendship, marking the journey of fate in a casual setting.

Autism and Shared Experiences

My best friend, who is genderfluid and now uses they/them, has a story that adds layers of complexity to our friendship. We first met when I was 14 and they were 11. Due to our mothers' friendship, we started spending time together, playing games and having conversations. Our shared experiences, including attending various plays and musicals, formed the basis of our growing bond. It was not just the activities but also our mutual understanding of being on the autism spectrum that brought us closer.

At the beginning, my friend recognized that I was "weird," which was a code for being autistic. However, they didn't care about the label and simply liked me for who I was. This acceptance was a defining moment in our friendship and has had a lasting impact on both of us.

Autism has not been a barrier but a connection point, as we deeply understand each other's inner worlds and unique ways of interacting. Our shared interests in pop culture, literature, and theater, along with our mutual enjoyment of spending time together, have kept our friendship strong for the past twelve years. I genuinely hope that we continue to grow and support each other in the years to come.

Conclusion

Friendship is a journey that sometimes begins in unexpected places and circumstances. Whether it's walking the same route to work, meeting at a bar, or sharing common interests, the essence of true friendship lies in the depth of understanding and the commitment to support each other. The road to becoming best friends is not always straightforward, but the destination is always worth every step taken together.