Originally posted on February 23, 2020
I want to tell you about a friend of mine. I first met Faris in March of 2019, almost a year ago in the residential treatment facility in Minneapolis, MN. He was only there for ten days, while I was there for almost two and a half months. We became friendly and participated in some activities together. We both enjoyed an early morning stretching and yoga group and once we had a good time playing music bingo. I knew right away that Faris was someone that I needed to know. Because I am more observant than extroverted, I didn’t really approach him until he was preparing to leave the facility. I knew I would likely never see Faris again if I didn’t talk to him before he left.
I didn’t have a phone at the time so I couldn’t just give him my phone number, and for the same reason, I didn’t ask for his. However, on his last day there, I asked Faris if I could give him my Facebook profile name so maybe we could keep in touch. I never actually thought he would contact me, but I hoped he would. I was anxious, but at least I had done something so the opportunity didn’t pass me up forever. Does it sound like I had a crush on him? Well, I did. Faris is extremely handsome, kind, intelligent, and very masculine. It was much more than that, however. There was something about him. Something that was more than a crush, more than a feeling. I had an intuition about Faris. A sixth sense about him. He was someone I definitely needed to know.
It was either later that day, or maybe the next, when I got a message on Facebook from Faris. I can’t even find words to explain how happy and surprised I was that it happened so quickly. He made contact and I was elated, even if it might end there. I felt charged by just the possibility of becoming good friends with him. Eventually, we exchanged many text messages and I learned more about his life and his family and how he came to be at the crisis house. I only knew some of his situation. There were things he was reluctant to tell me, but he did tell me in time.
This is why I need to tell Faris’s story. It is his story and the circumstances of his life that I now believe is the reason I first met him. I will let his story unfold gradually. I want my readers to understand the importance of this story. It cannot be rushed. Just know this…Faris is an inspiration. He is an amazing man and he has become one of my best friends. I can say confidently that my life would not be the same if I had never met him.