The morning sun shone bright on the milling crowd of excited students that were walking through the doors of the school. Everyone was talking and giggling with their friends, reunited after three months of summer break. She watched out the window of her car, finally slinging her backpack on over her shoulder. She drew her gray hoodie around her and stepped out of the car, butterflies in her stomach. She knew no one, having been to a small school most of her life. The bell rang, drawing the students to their classrooms.
The girl unfolded her schedule and looked at it until she found her homeroom. She walked in and slunk to her seat, not bothering to look at the unfamiliar faces around her. The teacher's voice echoed around the classroom, muttering words about the schedule and lunch periods. Most of the girls sitting together were whispering and passing notes. The girl felt like she was being watched. She turned around, only to face a girl who was intently staring at her hood. "Um, hi…" the shy girl started to say. The other girl smiled and greeted her, asking what her name was and if she wanted to be friends. "My name's Katie," she said, sticking her hand out to shake the girl's hand.
"Hi. I'm Melinda," the shy one said, smiling. "I can't remember that last time I had a friend," she said. "Well, you do now." Katie said, returning to her work. Melinda smiled to herself, glad she had someone to count on. For the first time, she had made a friend right off the bat. On the first day of school. Over the school year, Katie and Melinda's friendship grew. They had sleepovers, spent every extra minute together. Once they grew older, they still stuck fast, even through their changing interests. Katie was there when Melinda broke up with her boyfriend. She was there when Melinda found her soulmate and got married. She was there when she had her first child. They were there for each other, even in the winter of life, when they were old. Their friendship abounded from one simple greeting. Hello.