I never finish any story i try to write. Even if i start at the beginning or the ending, no matter what style i adapt, or what standards i follow, I'll end up hanging. It seems that, right smack in the middle, i discover my story bland, lifeless, dull, boring. Then i end up wasting my time and telling myself what a loser i am.

But, somehow, I find myself in other people's company and listen to the barrage of stories being bantered back and forth. And i just can't resist the temptation to put my pen to work. There's just something about how these stories move my heart, make me feel, and remind me, I'm glad to be alive.

Yesterday, after visiting our colleague and friend, Noel, at the hospital, Dee, Cher and I went to restaurant. It was way past 1 pm but the place was still very crowded and a lot of people were there. 3 days before payday... I thought, sighing aloud. So here we were, amidst all the hustle and bustle of people trying to pick the food they want to order, getting an empty table, or simply checking if their friends were there. Finally, we found the food that seemed palatable to us, and settled ourselves in a booth at the near corner of the restaurant. We talked about all kinds of stuff, sensible, senseless, some filled with heartache, others filled with laughter. Funny, a thought struck me that people was taking these ordinary events for granted, while here I was, feeling comfortable, thanking God for another opportunity to be with people and simply share and touch each other's lives, but barely noticing it.

"You know, I just realized that I am very comfortable with you guys." Dee laughed at me saying, "Maybe it's because you saw something in common with us. Not age, of course, but experience." I smiled, remembering that Dee was 36, and Cher was 35. I'm barely 22. "Cher added, "Yeah, and depth." We were just letting the conversation flow from one topic to another, laughing about funny remarks, talking about work, love and life in general. At one point, I remarked, "Cher, Cj is really adorable." Cher is a lovely lady, mother of two, but that fact of life is barely noticeable by just looking at her. Cj is her ten year old bundle of joy, who became attached to me the moment we met. "Isn't it funny that i take pride being a mother, but people say i don't look like one?" Cher laughingly said. "Well, look at both of you, you're both beautiful." I replied. Dee giggled and said, "Really? That's nice to hear, because when you're nearing forty, you question yourself." We all laughed at her comment. I, for one, would declare, Dee is also a beauty. You'll never know her age, not unless you ask her. I said "Looking at all 3 of us, it seems like I'm the mother, due to the weight i gained." "No, Penn. You just have to trim down a little.", they both commented.

Suddenly, Cher opened up. "I don't know what to do. It seems that I really want to get this over with. I love him, but, I'm just so tired." Cher was talking about Harry, the guy she is currently with. "Ask yourself a question, Cher, what are you scared of? Living without him per Se? Or living alone?" i said. Cher answered, "Penn, it's not that. It's just that I'm so used to having someone concerned about me all the time, then if i break it off, I'll suddenly fight the world by myself."

So here we were, trying to convince her Cher that letting go was hard, but once you put your mind to it and will it, you can. You just have to believe that you can stand o n your own. And then, Dee opened up about her friend from the past. And, I decided, that will be what this story is all about.

"I want to eat cheesecake." Lily declared to her friend, dragging her to the coffee shop. "Lee, it's too fattening. And besides, we don't have time for that. Remember, we're catching up on a deadline for the reports we're due. We have to get back to the office." Lily groaned and said, "Crystal, I'm gonna eat that cheesecake. Now, are you coming or not?" Crystal sighed her frustration. She knows that once her best friend puts her mind into something, there's no stopping her. Straightening her skirt, she said, "Okay, Okay. But i warn you. You're doing all the statistics on those reports. I still have research to do."

Lily smiled at her friend, pleased at getting her way. In her sneaky mind, she was delighted that Crystal agreed. She thought that Crystal always kept herself too busy and was too uptight. Little did Crystal know that this rendezvous was planned weeks ago. Lily smiled again, satisfied at the way things were turning up. She looked at her friend, thinking that in the 10 years they've known each other, Crystal definitely needed a shove.

"This is luscious! Superb!" said Lee, enjoying her dessert thoroughly. She glanced at Crystal, frowning at the coffee. "You should pamper yourself a little. You're too thin." Lee was giving Crystal a once-over. Undeniably, her best friend was gorgeous. From her soft, shiny hair that looked as if hours was spent in the salon to bring it to utter perfection, to her heart-shaped face, and lovely oval eyes the color of topaz, to her pert nose and luscious lips the color of berry. And it doesn't stop there. She had the body of a temptress. Her firm thighs, shapely calves to the trim ankles spelled sexy. And the innocence of and angel. Because she did not know the appeal she had. Lee was very proud of her friend. As the years flew by, she never showed any sign of aging.