There is perhaps no greater mystery in human existence than the curious alchemy by which two strangers transform into intimate companions, yet I find myself compelled to examine this phenomenon as one might study a rare butterfly—not to pin it down and destroy its essence, but to better understand the delicate forces that bring such beauty into being. What is it, I wonder, that distinguishes a true friendship from the countless casual acquaintanceships that populate our daily lives like pleasant but forgettable background music?