Nikos Liapis

Today, I saw a friend after 28 years. “Must be quite a friend!” remarked jokingly a colleague. Well, time apart was never a true measure of friendship for me and, once more, it felt as if Spyros and I had parted company only a few days ago.

We were brought together by chance in the middle of the Shropshire countryside back in late 1985. Part of a disparate group, taking its first steps away from home, in a foreign place. Exile and isolation can make the strangest of people bond. Bitching about the filthy skies and English cuisine provided the glue that kept us close throughout that endless winter. The rest of the time we shared our impatience to escape to the next stage of our future, so full of promises and dreams. Summer finally came. We said our goodbyes and drifted apart till today when we crammed a lifetime of events, choices, experiences and regrets in a coffee cup. Two old friends with a common moment in the past and paths that are at least 3,000km apart. And just like back then, we still talked about more dreams and the future. 19 again for the time of a double espresso.

Earlier this evening, I was going through some photos and came upon this 1/8000th of a Catalan second from last summer. It’s freezing outside again, and the picture complete with the carefree, sprightly boys somehow closed a circle. It fitted perfectly with the events and thoughts of my day. A bizarre blend of melancholia, bittersweet memories, optimism and calm. And it felt good.