DA,
I still remember when we became friends. Do you? It was Preschool. You walked through the door with your parent, and the second I saw you I stopped and pretended my legs were twisted and tangled up, and I fell over and over again; we both had such a blast laughing.
Also, remember how scandalous we felt in Kindergarten when we'd share "I Love You" hand gestures from across the room during nap time? We were supposed to be asleep, but I was so happy that I had someone else who shared my feelings, that I just couldn't rest.
You left for another school when 1st grade started. I didn't know until the first day of class, and I was sad and confused.
I didn't see you again until the end of 3rd grade. Our schools shared a field trip the the YMCA water park and I ran over and shouted my favorite name. Your friends didn't know me and were staring, but you waved and smiled.
Our last meeting was in 5th grade, when I was with Michael's mom, picking him up from school. I was always jealous that he got to be in the same school you did both in Kindergarten and through elementary, but he said he didn't see you often anyway. I walked into the unfamiliar after-school classroom; it was dark and there was a movie playing on the projector. I sat down next to him in front and we talked in hushed whispers. He knew why I was glancing around behind us:
"She's not here today. She got the stomach flu."
My heart, which was beating extremely fast, seemed to stop and slowly sink. Now that we were older, this was my chance to tell you how my legs were still tangled up, after all this time. But you slipped right between my fingers.
I still wonder where you are now and again. Are you in school? Do you still live in town?
Are you happy?