Christmas card

Today I received a Christmas card from someone whom I’d like to call my “Christmas friend” from school. Because every year at this time, she would send me, without fail, a Christmas card wishing me a happy Christmas and a good year ahead, and she would also remind me how much she appreciates me as a friend. Indeed. This year, her card was especially exceptional. She wrote the usual and then, to my surprise, added that she really appreciate my friendship and encouragement to her all this time, even though I might not know it. And if I remember correctly, the last time we met or spoke was more than a year ago. Perhaps more, I am not sure; it has been such a long time since I last saw her. So what is she talking about? I feel very puzzled and at the same time slightly amused, and so I have decided to call her my “Christmas friend,” a friend whom I will always hear from during this time of the year, without reciprocating her sentiment, not because I am a heartless cad but really because I have no faith that she would continue to do this the following year. But year by year, she surprised me. So perhaps next year, I should write her a Christmas card as well, perhaps I should remind her how much of a friend she has been to me, all this time, and how much her time and attention given to writing Christmas cards for me has been a great source of comfort and encouragement for me – even though she might not know it. Perhaps next year, I should write her a Christmas card reminding her how long we haven’t actually spoken to each other, and that I have long since given up the notion that she was still a friend to me. Perhaps that would stop her from writing to me ever again.