Goodbye, My Dearest Friend

My Dearest Friend,

It has been nearly two years since we said goodbye. 

Two years; it seems like an eternity without you, especially after spending eighteen years together.  I feel like a part of me is missing without you by my side.  I am missing the part of me that could have fun, talk about anything, and laugh at the silliest things.

But even when we were together, I knew, deep in my heart, that it couldn’t last forever.  All of my friends and family told me so.  They recognized how fragile and fleeting our friendship was.  Despite how we felt about each other, how much fun we had together, they recognized that I was growing up, but you were staying as childish and immature as ever. 

I began to recognize the differences between us in high school.  I was thinking about the future and college, studying as hard as I could.  You, on the other hand, were always goofing off and distracting me.  You couldn’t care less about school or going to college.  You simply wanted to have fun. 

After a while, you really began to get on my nerves, especially during our junior year.  I had ignored you for several weeks, concentrating on my most difficult classes.  But you were sick and tired of being ignored, and came up with a plan to get my attention again.  I was already in a bad mood when you walked in my room and plopped down on a chair beside me.  I tried ignoring you, my eyes furrowed in concentration as I slaved away at a particularly difficult trigonometry problem.  But you refused to be ignored this time.  You snatched the pencil from my hand, and began doodling on my homework!  After that, I just lost my temper.  I couldn’t take any more of your childish behavior.  I yelled at you to leave me alone!  I was done with your games; it was time to be serious! 

I am so sorry for hurting your feelings that day.  It was after that incident, that I really noticed how far apart we were drifting.  I wanted to grow up, and act like an adult.  But you just couldn’t do that.  It was never in your nature to grow up.  But my anger and bitterness towards you began to make you physically ill. 

But you were still there for me, even though I was never there for you.  You were always there during the most difficult times, especially so after Grandma passed away in the middle of our senior year.  You were there to comfort me.  You let me cry on your shoulders.  And you were always able to make me smile and feel better. 

But you were quickly fading away.  I never realized how weak you had become until six months before my eighteenth birthday.  When I saw you sadly watching me from a distance, I felt so bad for ignoring you during high school.  I had wanted to grow up so fast.  I never realized how much I really missed out on by ignoring you, Childhood. 

When I realized you only had six months left, I made a promise to you: I promised you I would let go of all of my fears, let go of all of my seriousness, and simply be a kid again. 

Those were the best six months of my life.  I just wish I could have seen how special you were sooner, before it was too late. 

But you are gone now.  You have been gone since the day I turned eighteen nearly two years ago.  I miss you so much, my dearest Childhood.  I never realized how difficult adulthood would be.  I wish I had never wanted to grow up so fast.  I wish you were still here with me.

But I did grow up, and I can’t go back.  Thank you for everything you did give me, my Friend.  You prepared me well for the trials.  Whenever I am going through a difficult time, I think of you, and how you always put a smile on my face, reminding me of all the good things in life.  When I think of you, I remember that it is okay to have fun, and let go of the seriousness every now and then.  I remember that it is okay, and a good thing, to laugh at myself. 

Childhood, thank you for everything.  I will continue to cherish every moment we shared.  I will never forget you. 

Your Best Friend,

Sarah       



Word Count:753