Always Her, Always Home

There are friends who know your stories.
And then there are friends who are your stories.

My best friend Lieke has been in my life for nearly 40 years.
We met as little girls in the Netherlands—back when our biggest decisions were which sticker to trade or who got to ride in front of our old motorbike.

Since then, life got louder.
Countries. Children. Careers.
But through all of it, she stayed.

Sixteen years ago, I left Holland.
I became an expat, moved across continents, and began building a life far from everything familiar.
And in doing that—I left her behind.

She’s never made me feel it.

Every day at 4:30pm—when she’s dropping her kids off at school—my phone rings.
Rain or shine.
Quick hello or a catch-up. We call it bulletpoints- because, who has the time these days?
That call comes.
A small thread tying me to home, to her, to us.

She hasn’t been able to visit in years—life’s been complicated on her side, too.
Her child has a rare condition, which makes travel complicated. Especially this far or before to a country with limited healthcare on this subject.

But every time I return to Holland, she clears her schedule.
No fanfare. No guilt. Just love.

She shows up with groceries. With my favourite flowers. With all the snacks I didn’t even know I was missing. She keeps things real with me and reminds me where I am from and how we started out in life. Her visits are epic.

And sometimes, I feel like I’m breaking her heart just by living this far away.
Like I’m disappointing her by choosing a life that doesn't include her more often.
But she never makes me feel that, either.

She just keeps loving me.

Not everyone gets a Lieke.
Someone who remembers every version of you, and still sees the best one.
Someone who waits out the time zones and forgives the silence.
Someone who clears a path back to you, every single time.

So if you’re lucky enough to have your Lieke—call her.
Text her. Book the flight if you can.I once flew over for her 40th, I never laughed as much as that night. It was perfect in all its chaos.

And if you’ve moved away from everything familiar and you're trying to rebuild a sense of home… Don’t forget the people who remind you who you are.

Because home isn't always a place.
Most of the times it's a person.

– Amy