I didn't like the idea of copy and pasting an entire scene word for word. However, the scene in the Underground when Sadie realizes that she's grown apart from her friends – it hits. I wanted to convey this feeling without actually including the scene. What about the exact moment in which Sadie starts crying?
I used to think our friendship would last forever. And in a way I was right. The time we spent together in 5th grade felt like forever.
We met on the first day of school. While all the other kids played, I stood on the side. So did you. I wanted to play this strong, moody character. To show everyone how angry I was, how much I didn't want to be here, away from my family, away from the life I used to know.
You saw me. You were braver than me. You sat next to me and asked what was wrong. I didn't want to believe that something good can come out of my mother's death. But I went to school the next day to two new friends.
The three of us always stood out, even when we tried to blend in. So, we stopped trying. It was the most fun I've ever had.
Like all good things in my life, it had to end.
We were going to go to prom together. We were going to go shopping for the most incredible outfits that everyone would talk about for years to come. We were going to get in the same University. Live together.
We even knew what our apartment would look like. What our pets would be called. Our children were going to be best friends, too.
We'd see three old ladies walking down the street, laughing like teenage girls. We'd point at them and go "Look, that's us!"
I mentioned all of this to Granny once. She said:
"I used to have a friend like yours. We had all those plans together."
"What happened?"
"She moved abroad after High School. We'd write to each other, call all of the time. I never got to visit her. She has a grandkid your age, you know."
"Do you miss her?"
"Every day."
I swore this won't happen to us.
I moved abroad. My family needed me. The world needed me.
They put a huge weight on my shoulders. I had no choice but to grow up, become strong enough to carry it. Or I would have been crushed.
With no time to breathe, I guess I didn't realize how we'd grown apart. Then we stood side by side again. The Universe stopped. I saw.
Have you ever mourned a future you could never have?
Have you ever loved someone with all your heart, yet known that all the love in the world wouldn't be enough to keep you together, to jump through the huge chasm that Time dug between you?
Have you ever missed someone as they stood right in front of you?
Have you ever mourned the living?
I used to think our friendship would last forever. And in a way I was right. You will forever be in my heart.