text: I hang amongst my peers waiting to be chosen. I’ve been here the longest compared to the others. I’ve seen many come and go out of this place, but for whatever reason, I remain. The others come in all shapes, sizes, colors, attitudes, & styles. It’s hard not to compare yourself to the rest. The newer additions seem to bring more of a smile to her face when her eyes land on them, sometimes that makes me feel like my age. The majority that have been around for the past few years haven’t been touched, looked at, or have been outside these four walls in some time. I can feel their angst, usually around the five year mark, once you leave, you never return. No one is completely sure what happens or where they go, but I hear all the rumors. Usually when I get chosen, she has a certain look on her face. It is usually one of a few emotions, When she's frustrated, when she’s in a rush, after a few others have been chosen and brought back, or a sigh of relief. I see her reflection in the mirror once she lays me on the bed, and it brings me a sense of calm knowing I get to see the world again and help her navigate the ups and downs of the days we spend together. She’s my best friend. I can’t speak for her, but I think she would feel the same way. We met at the thrift store over on 5th & Main.. We spotted each other in a crowded room, she thought she didn’t need me at first, but boy was she wrong. We became really close once we started spending more time together. We have been through so much in the last decade I was there during her last semester at school and needed to pass that final exam. We stayed up for three days straight. I don’t think she showered once. I stood by when that man paid for her meal when she realized she didn’t have enough cash in her wallet, and the next day she finally asked for that raise at work. There was a time when she bragged about me to her cousin Mary, and Mary said she wished she had something like me in her life. I don’t think they would even remember that, but I sure do. I had the perfect view when she met her now husband for the first time down at ‘The Gold Room’s’ happy hour. I felt her shake when he touched the small of her back. I helped pick out the color for their front door on their first home as a married couple, we went back and forth for hours, until we decided on ‘Hathaway Peach.’ It really was a nice touch. I held her children and watched them grow, but once they hit a certain age, she didn’t reach out to me as much as she used to. I don’t think it was anything personal, I mean, we were getting older and sometimes people grow apart from you for whatever reason, their interests and taste changes. I guess she wasn't into the same old things anymore, we didn’t spend nearly as much time together the past few years, until her daughter asked about me. The story goes that her and her daughter were looking through old photos, and over and over again, there I was. Her daughter asked if I still looked the same and if I was still around. Her daughter's eyes lit up when I entered the room. She said I was a perfect fit for the party next weekend, the boy she’s been crushing on will be there. I may be worn down and have seen better days, but I was always there when she needed me. And now I get to watch her daughter become a woman. She winked at me when her daughter took me with her to her room, I wonder if she still thinks about me..