A Friendship That Needs No Apologies

The essay beautifully captures the enduring power of friendship, even across distance and time. The author, Go Su-ri, recounts her decades-long bond with her friend Gi-won, who was her first friend when she moved to a new school. Gi-won, described as tall, strong, and outgoing, was like the 'older sister Chun-hwa' from the movie 'Sunny,' while the shy and introverted Go Su-ri was like 'Na-mi.'

Their friendship blossomed through shared experiences like skipping classes, recording music on cassette tapes, and even starting a theater club. Despite their differences, they remained close throughout high school. As adults, they built their own families and reached their forties, witnessing each other's firsts. Though their conversations evolved and they met less frequently, their reunions were filled with laughter as they reminisced about their shared past.

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Su-ri, don't feel sorry to me at all.

Go Su-ri admits to struggling with maintaining relationships due to her transient childhood. She often felt inadequate for not being more proactive in reaching out to friends. However, Gi-won consistently maintained contact, much like she used to call Go Su-ri from a different classroom in school. This realization brought a wave of guilt, especially after a recent call where Gi-won casually mentioned her mother's illness.

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If things were serious, I would have said so. We are adults. We raise children and support parents while earning a living, and the day flies by. We are all living like that. Who reaches out first doesn't matter. It's just that you think of someone.

Gi-won's response to Go Su-ri's apology was profoundly comforting. "Su-ri, don't feel sorry to me at all," she said. Gi-won explained that if things were serious, she would have said so. She acknowledged the demands of adult life, raising children, supporting parents, and working, which make days fly by. "Who reaches out first doesn't matter. It's just that you think of someone," Gi-won reassured her, adding, "We are living well. It's commendable just to live each day diligently. You, the country bumpkin who was a transfer student, even became a writer. You are my pride."

This exchange led Go Su-ri to a profound realization: maintaining a friendship over the long haul is far more challenging than the initial connection. She understood that the effort and care put into reaching out are significant. Reflecting on her past, she recalled Gi-won's kindness when she was a lonely seventeen-year-old, her family broken and her home gone. Gi-won's invitation to go somewhere better showed her the way forward. Now, Go Su-ri feels no regret, only gratitude, for the friend who taught her the meaning of a friendship that requires no apologies.

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We are living well. It's commendable just to live each day diligently. You, the country bumpkin who was a transfer student, even became a writer. You are my pride.