Part 1: When We Were Still Us Aira and Myra grew up together. Not the kind of friends who met later in life, but the kind who didn't remember how their friendship even started. They studied in the same classroom, played in the same streets, and shared secrets that made sense only to them. Being apart was never an option. At least, that's what Aira believed. Aira wasn't perfect. As a child, she could be moody and sometimes rude. There were days she wouldn't talk to Myra, days she would get angry for no reason. But over time, she learned to hold on. And Myra... Myra stayed. Then came 2019. Schools closed. Streets were empty. Life shifted indoors. Corona turned everything upside down. Aira was in seventh grade, attending classes from home. Days blended into months, and months into a year. By the time she reached eighth grade, the world was still locked. But one thing changed - exams were held offline. That exam day felt unreal. For the first time in months, Aira met her friends again. Laughter echoed in the school corridors like old times. On the last day, Aira and Myra sat together behind the school kitchen, away from noise, away from everyone. They both knew this was the end of something. "Our school is only till eighth," Myra said quietly. "After this... we'll be in different schools." The thought hurt more than either of them wanted to admit. They made promises that day. Promises people make when they're scared of losing each other. "No matter what happens," Myra said, "there will never be anyone else who takes your place in my life. You'll always be my only best friend." Aira promised the same. And in that moment, nothing else mattered. Nothing else existed. Just a promise. 🤞