The Thing That Should Have Been

Yesterday, I had the honor of being the best man at my best friend's wedding. I didn't write a speech, just sort of spoke from the heart and did okay with it. Still, as a writer(fuck off, I'll call myself what I want), I knew I could do a thousand times better if I'd prepared something. This is that something I should have said. Here goes.

Anyone that knows me knows I don't believe in fate. I don't like the idea that we are not in control of our own lives. As unsettling as that idea can be, sitting next to me are two living, breathing examples of it. I can think of no other way to explain all of this. How does a boy from Florida move to California, then meet a girl who lived in Ohio, studied in Georgia, who then also moves across the country, ending up less than 20 minutes away from him? What made them post on the same message board for the same show? How did they just...find each other like that? It boggles the mind, but to quote Ian Malcolm, "Life...finds a way." I remember the moment he told me he was going to meet her. Having planned a date for the end of the week on an hours-long phone conversation the night before, David sends me this text the very next afternoon: "I'm heading up to meet Liz. It...couldn't wait." Romantic, much?

From the considerable amount of time I've spent with them, I can say this with authority: These people were made for each other. You can say whatever you want about this idea, but it won't make it any less true. At least for them. Something brought these two amazing halves together to create some kind of flesh-and-blood Nocturnal Goatsucker. Vonnegut would be proud. In so few words, they are more awesome than you ever will be. Deal with it. These wonderful symbiotes represent all the potential that I or my peers could hope to aspire to when our respective days come. I believe that David and Liz were destined to do this forever. And that's all I have to say about that.

I love you both. Good luck in your new life together.