Foreword:
Inmylife,I'vehadmanyfriendscomeandgo,butnonehaveleftasmuchofanimpactonmeasmybestfriendinthirdgrade.HernamewasLily,andshewastheepitomeofeverythingIwantedtobe-kind,intelligent,andalwayswillingtolendalisteningear.Webecamefriendsonthefirstdayofschool,andfromthatmomenton,wewereinseparable.Thisisthestoryofourunbreakablefriendship.LilyandImetonthefirstdayofthirdgrade,andIrememberfeelingnervousaboutmakingnewfriends.ButwhenIsawhersittingatthedesknexttomine,Ifeltasenseofreliefwashoverme.Ourteacherassignedusseatsbasedonourlastnames,andIwasluckyenoughtobeseatednexttoLily.Shesmiledatmeandintroducedherself,andwequicklystruckupaconversation.
WetalkedaboutourfavoriteTVshows,books,andhobbies,andIwasamazedbyhowmuchwehadincommon.Webothlovedreadingandwritingstories,andwebothhadapassionforanimals.Afterthatfirstdayofschool,LilyandIbecamefastfriends.Wewouldwalktoschooltogethereveryday,andwewouldoftenstayafterclasstoworkonprojectstogether.OneofmyfondestmemorieswithLilywaswhenweworkedonascienceprojecttogether.Wehadtobuildavolcanooutofclayandmakeiteruptusingbakingsodaandvinegar.Wespenthoursworkingontheproject,laughingandjokingaroundaswemoldedtheclayintoshape.Whenitcametimetomakeiterupt,wewerebothsoexcitedthatwecouldn'tstopgiggling.
Ourvolcanodidn'texactlyeruptthewaywewanteditto-thebakingsodaandvinegarmixturefizzledinsteadofexploding-butwedidn'tcare.Wewereproudofwhatwehadaccomplishedtogether.Astheschoolyearwenton,LilyandIbecamemorethanjustclassmates-webecamebestfriends.Wewouldoftenspendourweekendstogether,playingboardgamesorgoingonadventuresinthewoodsbehindourneighborhood.OneSaturdayafternoon,wedecidedtobuildafortinthewoods.Wegatheredsticksandleavesandusedthemtoconstructasmallshelterthatwecouldsitin.Aswesatinourfort,munchingonsnacksandtalkingaboutourdreamsforthefuture,IrememberfeelingliketherewasnowhereelseI'dratherbe.LilyandIhadcreatedsomethingspecialtogether,andnothingcouldtearusapart.
Oneday,Lilycametoschoollookingupset.Iaskedherwhatwaswrong,andshetoldmethatherdoghadpassedawayovertheweekend.IcouldtellhowmuchLilylovedherdog,andmyheartbrokeforher.Ididn'tknowwhattosayordotomakeherfeelbetter,butIknewthatIwantedtobethereforherinanywaythatIcould.So,thatweekend,IinvitedLilyovertomyhouse.Wespenttheafternoonbakingcookiesandwatchingmovies,andalthoughwedidn'ttalkmuchaboutherdog,Icouldtellthatsheappreciatedhavingsomeonetoleanonduringsuchadifficulttime.Astheschoolyeardrewtoaclose,Icouldn'tbelievehowmuchLilyhadimpactedmylife.Shehadbecomemorethanjustafriend-shewaslikeasistertome.
Onthelastdayofschool,LilyandIexchangedbraceletsasasymbolofourfriendship.Wepromisedtoalwaysbethereforeachother,nomatterwhat.Overthesummer,LilyandIkeptintouchthroughphonecallsandletters.Wetalkedaboutourplansfortheupcomingschoolyearandalltheadventureswewantedtogoontogether.Whenfourthgradestarted,LilyandIwereexcitedtobeinthesameclassagain.Wecontinuedtospendourweekendstogether,playingsoccerandridingbikes.Oneday,Lilytoldmethatherfamilywasmovingtoanotherstate.Iwasdevastated.Ididn'tknowhowIwasgoingtogoonwithoutmybestfriendbymyside.
Buteventhoughweweremilesapart,LilyandIstayedintouch.Wewrotelettersandsentcarepackages,andweevenvideochattedonoccasion.Aswegrewolder,ourlivestookdifferentpaths.Lilywentontopursueherdreamofbecomingaveterinarian,whileIpursuedacareerinjournalism.Buteventhoughwewerenolongerinthesametown,LilyandIremainedclose.Wewouldstillcalleachotheronbirthdaysandholidays,andwewouldcatchuponeachother'sliveswheneverwehadthechance.Lookingbackonourfriendship,IrealizethatLilytaughtmesomuchaboutwhatitmeanstobeatruefriend.Sheshowedmethatfriendshipisn'tabouthowoftenyouseesomeoneorhowmanythingsyouhaveincommon-it'saboutbeingthereforeachotherthroughthickandthin.Andforthat,Iwillalwaysbegrateful.
