Gina and I weren’t best friends in college, but we were close enough to cry into wine and microwave ramen while complaining about professors and toxic exes. So when she called me out of the blue one day asking if I could be her bridesmaid, I thought we were rekindling our bond, but the truth soon revealed itself.

Gina was the type of friend who could dominate a group project without lifting a finger, just by raising her perfectly arched brow. I was more the get-it-done, no-nonsense type. So, our bond was weirdly balanced, a mix of late-night laughs and unspoken competition.

After graduation, life happened, and we drifted apart. We ended up in new cities, getting new jobs, and meeting new partners. Over time, our calls started becoming fewer. So when Gina messaged me a year ago to ask if I’d be her bridesmaid, I blinked at the screen in genuine surprise.

I called my boyfriend, Dave, seeking his wisdom. “Gina wants me in her wedding party.”