He is Back

12 years ago:

Playing with my friends in the playground was always my favorite pass time but, I've got to say, reading in the library was better. I get to sit next to my best friend in the whole wide world and we would read some books together. It was only then in where we would read to each other our favorite books.

Reading was always my favorite thing to do but my best friend never really liked reading but he would accompany me anyway.

"Kids, gather around! I have another story to read!" our teacher had said.

Everyone would gather around, looking up excitedly at the teacher.

"What's the book you're going to read to us, teacher Kim?" one of the kids shouted.

Our teacher smiled warmly at the boy who shouted and said, "The ugly little duckling."

She started reading the book and by the end of it, tears were rolling down our faces. My best friend told me not to cry but I couldn't help it. At the end of all the stories our teacher told us, the kids went to different places; the school playground or just around the library. And I chose the latter.

My best friend went out to play with our other friends at the library while I read some books and learned new things by the help of our teacher. My favorite place will always be here, where fond memories are and where my best friend and I would always stay.

A few weeks later after that, I heard a truck in the drive way, parked right outside my best friend's house.

"Annalise, come down here please!" my mother said.

I run down the stairs, holding the railings so that I wouldn't trip or fall and I entered the living room. There I saw my best friend.

"Josh has something to say to you, sweetie," my mom had kindly and warmly said.

I sat down on the couch, next to him with a smile on my face, happy that my best friend is here. But, my smile fades when he looks at me with a sad face.

"What's wrong?" I asked him softly.

"I'm moving out of here." He answers.

He's –

"You're moving?" I ask incredulously, tears starting to form, "why didn't you tell me?" He didn't answer.

"I said, why didn't you tell me?" I shout.

Big fat tears started rolling down my face as he looks at me with such an impassive expression. He never gave me an answer, he never even looked at me for that matter.

"Get out," I mumble.

"What?"

"I said," I started out in such a calm voice but then, "GET OUT!"

He looked startled, confused as to what to do and I started pushing him out towards the door. He protests. He had the nerve to protest.

"Don't do this," he begs but I couldn't take it anymore. My best friend is leaving me.

And that leads us today. I've never heard of him, never seen him, and truly never looked for him. Okay, that's a lie, I may have looked for him a few years back but I gave up. I gave up in ever trying to mend whatever it is left of our friendship. I cried for months after he left. But, he never, not once, ever tried to reach out.