They say that when two people part ways, whether it be a friend or lover, they become complete strangers. Yes, it is a forever cliche and irony that the people we once knew are now people we pretend to not know...at all. How is that even possible?

As time passed, I learned a few things. Strangers surprise you. They come into your life so suddenly, crashing into your walls and tearing them down (this, you allow it to happen unknowingly) and they invade your being. In the end, they leave a little of who they are within you. This, you can never deny. But then I learned that strangers don't have to be another person. They don't necessarily pop in, well, physically. However they do sneak up on you, always unknowingly...and then you realize that sometimes the stranger is yourself.

Was there ever a point in your life where in you stopped knowing who you are and what you wanted to be? It feels like the line between being forever young and growing up has become more and more visible. You used to be so sure of yourself until one day, it hits you and you realize you're lost. Some people don't even realize it at all. You have then become a stranger to yourself.

But just like any other relationship that starts from being strangers, when you finally do meet yourself, it always feels exciting. Indeed, it is a new beginning. You start building yourself until you feel it, this is who I want to be. This is who I am. Congratulations, you have just established a relationship with yourself.

Just like parting ways in any other relationship, parting from the person you used to be is painful as well. Remember, there's an imprint. But then, imprints aren't necessarily there to inflict pain or to remember it. They are still a little piece of who we really are. You can change a lot, but there's always going to be something about "you" left in there. In time, we'll all learn how to handle it. Ourselves.

At the end of the day, I realized: If I met me before, I wouldn't know me. Maybe I would, but not so well.

Strangers.