Oncoming Storms - Prompt 30 - 3

[thecricketer]

Someone who has changed my life.

I could list them all, you know. From Susan to Erimem. That would be either very long or very dull, however, and it wouldn't cover everyone anyway. There are the people I knew as a child, the people whose presence was only fleeting.

After Gallifrey, of course, Barbara had the most impact. She changed my life by changing me – without her influence I certainly wouldn't be the man I am today, perhaps nowhere near.

Susan, of course, had a part in that as well, and Ian, but Barbara was the one who challenged me the most, who reminded me of the person I once wanted to be.

Before that, before I ran away, it was Koschei.

I can admit that. We were best friends, after all. We pushed each other into being something greater than we were, into striving for something more. I'll be the first to admit that we had troubles, that the relationship wasn't always beneficial – that I wasn't always a very good friend.

There are, of course, things I would have done differently – not simply because of how it all turned out, but because he deserved better. Some things I wish he had done differently.

I wouldn't take it back.

No. No, that's not true. If I knew, with certainty, that without me his life would have been better, that he wouldn't have become who he did, then I would.

It's all of it moot, of course, and regardless, I can't say I regret having known him.

Comments

[galeforcehero.livejournal.com]

That's part of being a friend, though; the not-always-getting-along part. Even best friends make mistakes for each other. It's... well, I was going to say "only human", but I guess it's bigger than that, isn't it.

No matter how much you impact someone's life, though, they make their own choices. Don't think you can blame yourself for how someone else turns out.