By Jeanne Althouse
When they bought matching navy blue dresses for the Persian wedding, Maryam was still Clare’s friend. Maryam was married to Mehdi. He was Clare’s friend first, but she loved Maryam’s flair for style, her honesty, the collection of bracelets that she wore to each elbow.
Clare still has photos on her phone. They are hugging, in their dresses.
Maryam only wore the dress once. When they separated, she gave away all the clothes she had ever worn with Mehdi. Clare heard she dressed from thrift shops when his money stopped. Maryam didn’t return calls. She gave away all of Mehdi’s friends too.
There’s probably a deep philosophical or psychological term for the connection between clothes, and friends, and/or friends, and weddings, or even friends, and photos-on-the-phone. But even if there is, I’m happy we have this story — and I prefer it to any such term.
Thank you Tony. Divorce changes everything. Sad for the friends who are discarded too.
Divorce, too, is one of those words.
A sad consequence of divorce. Well done.
Thank you.