is friendship sacred to you? - by faith zapata

On Monday, at noon on the dot, I’m sitting inside of a coffee shop on a beautiful summer day in the middle of June. I’ve found a table placed perfectly under a skylight. Little droplets of sun scatter across the surface and I think about taking a picture, but I don’t. I take small, frequent sips of my maple matcha latte, which was a little too sweet, but I ordered it anyway because the barista had recommended it so excitedly. I eye the door every few seconds, anxiously awaiting the friend I’m supposed to meet here. Grace, one of my close friends of many years, and one of the first people I met in the music industry, just wrapped up a month of touring as support for another band — and the last stop was the previous night in Sacramento, somewhat local to me. I sadly wasn’t able to make it because of pre-existing Father’s Day plans in the evening, and I’d felt that familiar pang of guilt that comes with choosing family obligation over friendship, even when the choice feels right. But we b

On Monday, at noon on the dot, I’m sitting inside of a coffee shop on a beautiful summer day in the middle of June. I’ve found a table placed perfectly under a skylight. Little droplets of sun scatter across the surface and I think about taking a picture, but I don’t. I take small, frequent sips of my maple matcha latte, which was a little too sweet, but I ordered it anyway because the barista had recommended it so excitedly. I eye the door every few seconds, anxiously awaiting the friend I’m supposed to meet here. Grace, one of my close friends of many years, and one of the first people I met