THE BEST FRIEND

My dearest best friend, it’s because of you I know what friendship really means.

I remember I used to be a person who wanted people around me to be pleased by whatever I did, be it cracking a joke or writing their notes. I used to comply with anything and everything if I knew that they’d like me and be my friend. I hated saying NO to people; what if they stop liking me if I don’t share my lunch or what if they think I am selfish if I don’t help them complete an assignment. But this wasn’t just it.

I remember walking through the corridor on a regular lunch break when a friend spoke to me and told me one of her secrets. I felt so important thinking ‘Wow somebody shared something with me. She must really like me’. But later that day, some of my friends asked what the matter she talked to me about was. I was unsure as to what to do; I had never had anyone tell me a secret, I had never had a friend; I had never been in a similar situation and I was extremely confused. But again, my tendency to make them please interfered and I spilled it to them. I felt extremely terrible but I had no clue that what I had done was wrong. I realised it later and neither the girl remained my friend nor the group that I spilled this to did. This was it; I had no idea what a friend was and I definitely didn’t know how to be one.

Then came Vidya; she was a really close friend of mine since 2nd grade. But we never had made it to an extent where we could call each other our best friends. But later, spending time with her, I saw what a good friend she was. Literally anyone would tell her their secrets and I was shocked; but yes, I realised that’s because she’s an extremely trustworthy person. We grew closer over time and then we made it; we became the best of friends. We shared lunch, secrets, gossip, feelings; she was literally the single person in school that I had no issue sharing my chocolate with. That’s how much she means to me; without her there’s no way I would’ve been this good of a friend. All these days, I listen to people telling me “You’re such an amazing friend, Saranya. I trust you!” and I think “I don’t think you would’ve a couple of years back hehe.”

All of us have that one friend who you run to when you’re in trouble, when you need advice, when you need to vent; because you know for a fact that they’re there for you. And in my case, that’s somebody who can complete my sentences without me having to say it. But let me tell you, best friends aren’t those who support you no matter what, but those who support you because you need them but tell you off and help you right your wrong when you mess up.

My dearest best friend, you have me because you were there for me when I needed it. I am a trustworthy friend because you were one. You’re THE BEST FRIEND.