A SILENT FRIENDSHIP

 

 I met one of my dearest friends when I was just ten years old. It was my first year at a new school, and everything felt unfamiliar—new faces, new teachers, and a new environment. During those early days, my father used to drop me off at school on his bike every morning. I remember feeling both excited and nervous as I held onto him, wondering what each day would bring.

After a few weeks, my father became too busy with work to take me to school himself. So, I started travelling to school in the school van. That simple change turned out to be a blessing, because that’s where I met her—the girl who would become one of my closest friends. She was my age, cheerful, and full of life. At first, I struggled to talk to her because I was a little shy and had some trouble speaking. But her kindness and warm personality made it easy for me to open up. Before long, we were chatting every day and laughing together.

By the time we were thirteen, we ended up in the same class. I was delighted to see her familiar face among the crowd. She was a kindhearted girl with a genuinely pure soul. Every day after the final bell rang, we would pack our bags, walk together to the van, and talk about anything and everything. She was such a talkative and lively person—she could make even the dullest day feel brighter. Her maturity always amazed me. Despite being our age, she had the heart and wisdom of someone much older. She carried herself with so much positivity that it was impossible not to smile when she was around.

Whenever I was stressed about exams or worried about something, I would sometimes cry. But she was always there for me—patient, comforting, and understanding. She had this gentle way of healing my worries, simply by listening and offering her support. Her friendship became one of the safest spaces in my school life.