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Just Good Friends
Lorna and George have been just friends since the sixth form - but why do people find it strange that hetrosexual men and women can be very happy being....just friends.
Once upon a time
We didn't really become friends until the sixth form. We made a connection with our sense of humour and shared various problems and made a strong link that way. I went out with guys and still maintained friendship with George. But quite a few of the boys found that hard to handle. People find it hard to believe that there is such a rapport between two people of opposite sexes when there is obviously a strong link between the two of us but there isn't any kind of sexual chemistry. Parents always said: "You'll end up with good old George. Ever looked at him with other than platonic eyes?" No, I can honestly say that that would be so strange.
Lorna's story
I got engaged but my fiancee couldn't accept my relationship with George, and virtually forced me into telling George that I wasn't going to stay in touch with him any more. I was vulnerable at the time and I was willing to do what my fiancee told me in order to keep him. But only seeing George over Christmas for the next three years was very difficult and painful. I knew that there was nothing romantic between us, but this fiancee just saw it as a threat and couldn't accept the friendship at all. It was dreadful to almost lose my best friend. This was definitely a major reason why the engagement ended.
The Happy Ending
Then you give up all that - and what does George do then? He gets engaged! It came as quite a surprise. I was very happy for him, but there were alarm bells ringing - I was afraid that it was going to be a similar scenario. Before I met Fiona I was very worried. But now that I have met her I realise that she is not going to see our relationship as a threat.
"Why can't we just be friends" is one of the most common clich茅s exchanged between men and women.
But can your best friend be someone other than your lover?
Is there room for both?
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