Dear Musketeers,

You two have entered my life at different times

yet you both mean the world to me

I dread separation -

the battle between boredom and loneliness cancels out everything else and I miss your everyday comments on the world

I feel as close to content as I can be in this world right now when I'm with you two

connecting over everything and nothing

talking

and when we're quiet, savoring the silence of understanding

the three of us

a circle where everyone is beside everyone else

a triangle

but not a love triangle

a friendship triangle

we all have different views of the world

yet we all agree in some way or another

dear Musketeers,

I appreciate you two in my life

the constant companionship

always there for each other

we have no cracks for someone to open wider

we mend each other

a circle with three sides

hiding in the eye of the storm

as the hurricane around us spins and twirls

protecting us from intruders

sometimes we let others in

but as visits

we welcome them into the "family"

and despite the large group of relatively happy friends we have -

and are almost constantly around -

we will sometimes return to our fortress of solitude

hidden in the eye of the hurricane

in a floating castle in the void

all sorts of barriers blocking the unwanted out

but inside

inside is a cozy blanket fort

lined with pillows

blankets draped over the chairs to make a roof

and in the middle

milk and cookies

plentiful for three

when we sit and wait out the storm

hiding in plain sight

curling up in the recesses of our minds

dear Musketeers,

I owe you two so much

I appreciate you.