I was sitting on the porch of my house, eagerly waiting for her arrival. It’s been days since we both met each other. I was 7 years old then. I was holding a teddy bear, matching the pink frock I was wearing to surprise her.

The gate wide opened. I was expecting that she would run to me and hug me so tight. Instead, there she was, wrapped in a white cloth from head to toe.

“Mommy, why is Nessa sleeping?” I asked to the woman beside me with swollen eyes. She replied me no more rather than wiping her tears falling down her cheeks. I was too young to understand that my best friend is no more going to play with me. She’s no more going to enjoy the pleasure of dancing in the rain while our mommies keep yelling at us. She’s no more going to pet my dog Vegas and give him treats. She’s no more gonna laugh at me every time I say 2+2 equals 3.

“Valerie, Nessa”- she carved, “Together, Forever” on the bark of the tree in the park nearby, not knowing that forever isn’t forever.

I still do remember her last words to me. “See ya later” she said, not realising it wasn’t true.

© Varsha