For Haley

While walking to and from lunch today
we laughed so loud and raucous
that I thought the earth itself might shake and roar accordingly.
we laughed to forget, we laughed to conquer,
we laughed to ignore the icy breath of mid-October
as it curled around our faces.
you bellowed miraculous, deep-throated and sincere,
while I shrieked like a child, spastically yet genuine.
and what occurred to me then was this:
as I walk the tightrope between youth and adulthood,
as I try to hold on even with the knowledge
that I ultimately must let go,
I realized that this moment, today, the laughter--
it was all so special.
and you are such an angelic person,
and the closest friend Ií»ve had in quite awhile.