Square One

Joe and I talked yesterday for the first time since the fight. It started on instant messenger as a "Hey, I need to get this from you" kind of thing, and evolved into a real conversation from there. He came over after work, for what was to be a 10 or 15 minute talk, that lasted two hours. All the cards, all the truths were laid out on the table.

We're not back together. We started out as best friends, and we were losing that. And we wanted to get it back. So we're starting over at the beginning, as friends.

After that we went to his place for me to pick up some stuff. I tinkered with the accordion I bought him, trying to fix it, we talked about instruments and music and his neighbors and just shot the shit, in a more relaxed, easy way than we've talked in a while.

Met Ashly back at my house, with Joe to follow a half hour later or so, bearing pizzas. I said to Ashly that in a surprising way, I felt relieved. All the tension, the walking on eggshells, it was gone. I had my best friend back and it felt like it used to.

Joe made it over and we spun records, ate pizza, talked, and laughed. Lots and lots of laughter. It was a great night. One of the best I've had in quite a while.

Ashly left, and Joe and I just chilled on the couch, all smiles, listening to Elizabeth Cotten, content and chatting. "Do you feel... relieved?" he asked me. Seems like we're both on the same page.

It's the right path. It's what both of us needs right now.