Disclaimer: I lay no claim to any of the Charmed characters, quotes, or overt references that may appear in my stories. They are the sole property of Spelling Television. I write for my own satisfaction and for the enjoyment of those who choose to read them.


Old Friends

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A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words. ~ Unknown
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Phoebe leafed through the photo album. October was always a rough month for her. Years had passed but the memories of friendship would not be forgotten, not this year or any other year. Twenty-two years they had been inseparable. But then the division of life separated two kindred spirits. Only in body, not in heart. Laura had been there for so long, not to have her a part of Phoebe’s daily life was, at first unbearable. Weeping and hugs, and more weeping were all that was able to be communicated when Laura, through wavering emotions broke the news: “We are moving.”

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Old friends call you on the phone sometimes Or show up on your doorstep And say, "Remember when..." And unpack their adventures And hang them in the closets of your heart.
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“Ah, I remember this.” Phoebe spoke to the tome holding memories and precious moments in her life. Love, so warm and real flooded her soul. Like a favorite sweater on a cool autumn day. “Oh, the adventures we had, didn’t we my friend?”

Pain, too, marked their lives as one of the trio was stolen from them too soon, yet still he would live forever in their hearts. This ache was once again opened up, as Phoebe was having to say goodbye, yet again, to another friend. Only at that time it was Laura, her husband and two adorable children. All interwoven in her life so intricately that to separate them was like losing part of herself.

Several sheets of paper slipped from the pages of the album. Letters dates soon after “that day”. But, the words, though tender, failed to touch Phoebe’s heart in the same way her friend’s voice and nearness did. But the game was set and the rules were changed, so Phoebe’s unwilling heart played along; as she now recalled the unfulfilling letters she wrote back.

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Old friends write you letters years too late But you write back anyway. They wake you in the night Calling from the airport In between flights.
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Phoebe had lost so much. Her mother, grandmother, sister, husband, a dear friend and then another piece of her heart had been taken without her permission. Would everyone, she ever loved eventually leave? Oh, if she endured one more loss, it would stop her fragile heart from ever beating again.

She soon realized that time heals and makes the bond of friendship so much stronger that, she knew life would go one and Laura would one day come back home.


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I used to worry Everyone was leaving and soon they'd all be gone But I was wrong 'cause life went on. And sooner or later they all came home.
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Slowly, Phoebe closed the multicolored sheet of time and wiped a tear of bittersweetness from her cheek. “Yes, time does march on and the relationship has grown all the stronger for the moments together are all the more dear.”

As Phoebe slipped the book back into the bookshelf, a soft rapping was heard on her door.

“Yes, just a minute.” Phoebe dabbed at her eyes and cheeks, hoping the avoid Piper’s questioning eyes; knowing she would fail. Piper knew her better than she even knew herself, so the task was really pointless.

“Ok, come in.” As the door creaked open announcing her sister’s entrance, Phoebe gingerly turned around, ready to go into her sister’s open arms. She gasped and blinked rapidly, not sure if her eyes were deceiving her.

“Well? Are you just gonna stand there with your mouth hanging open are you gonna give me a much needed bear hug?”

There stood Laura. Arms open and soon filled with her childhood partner in crime.

“When, how…”

“Time changes Phoebe, people don’t.”

“But… how long, how long before you leave me, again?”

“Who says, I’m leaving?”

“Remember, you always said, were are stuck with each other. Looks like San Francisco is once again my home. Think you can handle that?”

Phoebe was almost too shocked to answer… almost. “You’ll have my hockey stick to answer to if you are pulling my leg.”

“Ugh, you haven’t changed a bit, have you?”

“Nope, and neither have you.”

“Come on, Piper and Paige are sure to be dying to find out what’s going on up here.” Phoebe linked arms and headed towards the door and out the hallway.

“Uh, Pheebs? You think you have a place for me to bunk for the night?”

“You’re kidding right? In this house, there will always be a place of old friends.”


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Old friends, all our paths will cross again Like multi-colored ribbons enlaced through time and space And there will always be a place for Old friends.
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Dedication: To the moderator of this board. The journey has reached a fork in the road, but the destination will be traveled in the hearts of those we’ve had the great privilege of meeting along the way. The parting is brief, but the love is eternal. You are in my thoughts.