The First and Last Best Friend Speech

Next month, my best friend of over ten years is getting married.
The wedding date is set, and I have been entrusted with giving a speech.

"So, I'm counting on you for the speech!"

The moment she said that,
I felt a mix of joy and a tiny bit of nervousness.

After all, we have over ten years of memories.
It's not a relationship that can be summed up easily.

We are not alike at all.

For starters, we are in different school years (ages).
We went to different schools.
Honestly, our personalities are completely different, too.

If I had to name our commonalities,
• We are the same gender
• We were in the same club, even though we went to different schools
• And we went to the same cram school

That's really all.

But that "that's really all"
was the beginning of a relationship that has lasted over ten years.

Why has it lasted so long?

Honestly, I sometimes find it mysterious.

Our environments are different.
The paths we've chosen are different.
Our values aren't exactly the same, either.

The reason we never drifted apart,
I think, is simply because it's "easy" to be together.

I don't have to be on guard.
Yet, she is someone I truly want to cherish.

Even if there are periods where we don't see each other,
when we meet again, we can pick up right where we left off.

I think that is probably something very special.

What should I talk about in her wedding speech?

There are so many episodes that I asked her,
"Is there anything you don't want me to talk about?" (laughs)

She said anything is fine.
That's a relief (laughs).

But then I realized.

In the end, I don't want to tell "funny stories" of course,
but rather, I want to properly convey "what kind of person she is."
The her that I know.

She is someone who

observes people well.
She notices things subtly.
And she supports others subtly.
She is the type who stays by your side quietly and reliably.
I have been saved by that kindness many times.

I'm sure her kind fiancé has already noticed it too.

And I'm sure he will come to know it even more from now on.

What is marriage, I wonder?

Over ten years ago,
back when we were sweating it out in the same club, even though our schools were different.

I never imagined that one day,
I would be giving a speech at her wedding.
I think this is what it means to grow up.

Walking different lives,

falling in love with different people,
and yet, a relationship that keeps intersecting somewhere.
They say marriage isn't the goal but the start,

but I'm sure on that day, I will think while crying,
"I'm so glad she was the one chosen."

What I will say in the speech,

I still don't have the perfect answer.
But there is one thing I have decided.

Not to exaggerate.

Not to force myself to get laughs.
To speak only the truth.
The her I have watched for over ten years,

I will deliver her as she is, in my own words.
I feel like that will be the greatest blessing of all.

momopan🍑