The Turning Point

The Turning Point



As the years moved on, so did the shape of our friendship. Josephine had found a new rhythm in life with the Special Olympics club she joined in 2008. For a while, we balanced it all—her commitments, our connection, and the memories we had built through fire and healing. But by 2016 or 2017, I began to feel the shift, subtle at first, then unmistakable.

The club started placing more demands on her time. Events, training, meetings—it slowly claimed more of her world. But what truly stung was when it began blocking her from traveling to see me. No more weekends, no quiet Thursdays, no sitting in the kitchen just chatting like we used to. It wasn’t her choice, I knew that. She never wanted our friendship to fade. But the control the club exerted over her schedule and life was something we couldn’t work around.

It wasn't just about lost visits—it was the emotional wall that grew each time she had to say, “They won’t let me come.” Our once effortless connection became tethered to conditions and permission slips. And just like that, something beautiful and enduring was slowly dismantled—not by either of us, but by the very structure that once offered her hope.

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