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As a preteen, I had social anxiety. In school, I would freeze up, too terrified of what others were thinking of me to move. When my family moved to another city when I was twelve, I had two choices – either face my fear or remain alone. At first, I didn’t make any friends. This was a lonely summer. Then, my mom drove me to camp and dropped me off to face an entire group of strangers. I almost cried.
It was at this very camp I was introduced to Claire. Upon meeting her, she quickly invited me to stay with her and her friends in an already overstuffed cabin. Words cannot express the depth of gratitude I felt towards her in this moment.
Years passed, and Claire and I became good friends. Best friends, some may say. My gratitude for Claire grew when she nursed me back to health after I suffered a brain injury years later. The second I woke up from a seven-week coma, Claire was right there, urging me to do the physical therapy and recover. I am not one to attribute life to external forces, but let me say this: these ideas would NOT be flowing out of my fingertips right now if it had not been for Claire.
Things We Forget 
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