Brian

When wonderboyny decided to leave Michigan a while back, I had my doubts, because people's problems tend to follow them. But I was wrong about Brian. New York has been good to him. More than that, he has worked hard to turn his fortune around. He had a fresh start, and made the best of it. Sometimes luck conspires with willpower.

Our lives have followed similar trajectories in the four years we have been friends. I've known hopelessness, and have fought it, and have known the feeling when good things start to surprise me. If anything, Brian has travelled further. It makes me feel gushy, protective, proud and inspired, all at once.

We finally met in person, in Toronto, earlier this year (he was shorter than I expected!), and during my visit to New York we snatched a little more time together. I wish we could have wandered longer in Central Park, and that I hadn't been in such pain, but I believe there will be other opportunities. Danny took this picture for us.