Handshake

Handshake

Throughout our life we meet lots of friends, most of them share common interest but what are special are the tiny details of memories we have with them. These simple gestures that are prolong in our mind and in our hearts are the things that make a friendship unique and special. Have you had a childhood friend that you love so much but left? Well, I do know how that feels, being left by a friend who you thought will be at your side forever.

I still remember the very first time I saw her. She had the longest hair in our class. We were both in kindergarten at that time. We really did not talk to one another until that one faithful day. The day I accidentally tossed the bubblegum I was chewing in her long and soft hair. She hated me so much that she threw blocks at me. The teacher called our parents for counselling and as soon it was over I apologized to her and grabbed her hand and shook it. Like they said the rest was history.

After that day we became best friends. We were inseparable even our teacher and parents saw the big change in our friendship. Years past and still we were best friends. Our friends call us twins whenever we pass the hallway because we had this OCD thing that we have to have matching clothes whenever we go to school. The only thing that was not matching was our hair. She had long straight hair while I had shoulder length hair that was wavy. I was not good looking at all compare to my best friend. She was Miss popular and everyone liked her. I was living in her shadow but that did not stop her from being my best friend. She protects me and cares a lot about me that is what I like about her.

Everything was going smoothly and perfectly fine until her dad got a job on another town far away from where we lived. She did not wanted to tell me that she was moving until the very day she will moved out. We were in 6^th grade when she moved away. Before she left she asked me to see her before the big day. She hugged me and said to me. “I know it is far, but distance is not a hinder to our friendship. You know that you are my sister at heart and I will never forget you.” I started to cry because she was very important to me and that her moving away broke me down. As she looked at me she placed her hand as if she was giving a handshake and spoke “We will still see each other. I know it” I shook her hand like the very first time we became friends.

Years past and after she moved away we kept in touch but it soon faded away. Her father died in an accident and ever since that she stopped communicating with me. I don’t know how to reach her. It was when my college graduation when I finally saw her. I was in a town near where she moved in. She was drinking coffee at a shop. The moment I saw her I knew that she was my best friend. She still had that long hair and still had that mannerism when she sits down with her legs crossed. I slowly approached her and held her shoulder and said “Hey best friend! I missed you! Why didn’t you answer my calls and my emails?” then a man approached me and said “I am sorry, who are you?” It was then when I realized that she was now deaf and blind. She had an accident together with her father. The man who approached me was her fiancé.

I was devastated and paused for a while. I then grabbed her hand and gave her a handshake. In an instant she hugged me and started crying. She said “Best friend! I am sorry! I couldn’t see anymore! I couldn’t hear! I was afraid that you’ll leave me because I am disabled” I hugged her tightly, stroked her long hair and softly whispered “You are my best friend. I love you as my sister and sisters don’t leave someone just like that.” From then on I took care of her. I was always by her side until today. I still won’t forget the day we had that handshake. It was a simple gesture but it meant a lot

THE END