Goodbye

Zeba, 12, US

My best friend told me some bad news.

"Tomorrow's my last day at school," she said softly, then acted like it wasn't anything big.

At first I didn't know what to say.

"Tomorrow's your last day?" I asked, unbelieving.

She nodded her head.

I was shocked.

"How can you leave me?!" I asked.

"Its not my fault. I don't want to go, but I have to leave," she said very softly.

The next day I didn't see her until after school. I gave her a card, and I helped her clean out her locker. I didn't feel like crying then, and so I didn't shed a tear. We talked and laughed until her locker was clean. She gave me her green dragon to remember her by, and we started to put her stuff in her bag.

As we walked home I found myself fighting back tears. We laughed softly and talked a little slower about things we had never told each other. I walked to her where she had to meet her mom, and I gave her a hug.

"I'll call you later," she promised as I slowly walked away. We waved good-bye and wiped our eyes.

I was still crying when I got home. I didn't want to talk to anyone or see anyone, so I went to my room and sat holding my dragon. Nobody bothered me, and that was good.