Realize

Take time to realize that your warmth is crashing down on in.
Take time to realize that I am on your side. 
Didn't I, didn't I tell you?
But I can't spell it out for you.
No, it's never gonna be that simple.
No, I can't spell it out for you.

-Colbie Caillat

i love this song. i know it's probably about a girl and a guy, but what i see is something different.
twisting the words a bit, the song talks about realizing that the friends you have are there for a reason.
i have this friend.
she had a very bad past, in the category of doing things she knows is wrong, yet continually doing them.
i guess things like that can just become addicting.
anyway, all of this happened before we were friends.
when i met Sally*, she was a hard-hearted girl who did what she wanted, when she wanted, with who she wanted.
being naive to the new world of Tennessee, i was deceived for a while by her outward appearance,
but soon became aware of what i was dealing with.
over the months of hanging out, going to movies, and just talking on the phone, Sally started changing.
i'm not sure if i was the influence she needed, but i definitely saw a change.
she stopped her bad habits, she turned from her old, destructive ways,
and became an all-around better girl.
we continued to grow closer and closer over time, until something over the past 2 months changed it all.
three bad influences entered Sally's life; and it seemed as if she was about to turn into the old girl that
i met 2 years prior.
i could see it building, waiting for the moment she'd snap.
giving her advice every day,
strongly suggesting her to stay away from these three bad influences,
i began wondering why she still thought it was humorous and "no big deal."
one day, i asked.
"why don't you listen to me? why don't you just take my advice. you should know that i have a clue what i'm
talking about, because i've gone through something similar."
in response, Sally laughed and said,
"i don't know, it'll be fine!"
now, i remember my thoughts when Sally told me something Laura* had said to her,
about the same thing,
saying that Sally should be careful and stay away from these bad influences...
i laughed at the thought, then.
now i realize how right Laura was.
i guess sometimes we just have to take to heart how serious things can be,
and that if we have good friends,
we have to know they care about us
and just realize that what we have isn't just there for fun,
but that our friends really are on our side.


p.s. merry christmas:]

*some names have been changed.