Math was never my favorite subject. After the third grade I got worse and worse at it. The equations never made sense and I was always struggling. There were so many steps and so many rules that my brain just didn’t have the hardware  to keep up with what they were scribbling away on the board. I remember the teacher very well. Big in size, mean in temper, and had owl eyes. Everyone in the school hated her and the way she taught. Of course she had all the sixth grades so, having her class was like being on a wooden roller costar. You always got whiplash and left not wanting to go back but yet there you were, on the roller-coaster again. That was her class.

I happened to get a seat next to another girl who also was terrible at math. We introduced ourselves and the first time we met it was awkward. We were both shy and new to the school so we were on rocky ground. After a few days of sitting next to one another though, we opened up quickly and it became evident that we were going to be a problem to the teacher. As soon as there was an issue with the grades and talking, she split us up and made sure to keep an eye on us. Yet not before we had traded numbers and started texting. Instantly we became best friends and it turned out that we both had the same name. Her initials were S.S and mine were S.D. Her birthday was in December and Mine is in September. She was a blonde and I a brunette. She had blue eyes and mine were brown. We were opposites in every way when it came to looks but were the same when it came to thoughts and feelings.

After the first time we hung out outside of school I met her family. Her parents fought a lot and it made our friendship hard. Her father was unhappy and her mother was always complaining about something. She had a younger brother that she took care of in her parents place and was always telling me stories about how they fought. Her parents didn’t understand her and it made it hard for her to function. She tried everything she could to be around me as much as she could but with us both being so young and with not having cars it became evident that our friendship should be cherished while we were together.

We went on many adventures and we got really good at guitar hero. We talked about our future as friends and made plans to go places together. Big dreams in such small bodies. I wished that she could come stay with us and I had hoped that something would happen so that we could take her in fully and she wouldn’t have to go anywhere. She was fun, kind, quirky, inventive, imaginative, and just wonderful to have as a friend. She made me feel not so alone in the middle school universe and I looked forward to seeing her at school every day.

Summer came around and we were both excited for this chance to sleepover at each others houses all the time. Yet family seemed to create road blocks. It was real, her parents were getting divorced and she was going in and out of court. She was in distress and before I knew it, they were making plans to move away. With one decision from a judge my friend was as good as gone. She had packed up and moved all the way to Virginia and quickly had changed.

I remember when I saw her in the summer of 9th grade. She was lean, more mature, happy and had a boyfriend. She was going to the gym, her father was happier, her brother was doing good and she was moving up in academics. She was studying hard and doing her best to change her life. It was wonderful to see her so beautifully grown and to still considered her friend. We took pictures and exchanged happy smiles. Once we parted we messaged until life got in the way.

I miss her so much. I haven't seen her or heard from her since then and everyday I wonder about her and hope that she is out there somewhere pursuing her dream. I hope she's happy, healthy, and just thriving. That’s all I wish for her and I very much hope that I get to see her again someday. Maybe in ten years I will run into her, her eyes will light up with realization and just like nothing happened we will catch up like old pals. I hope that day comes.I miss her everyday and I hope she will read this someday.

So in case she does, I want to say.

"I miss you so much and I hope your doing well. I know things were so short when we were young and we never got to hangout as often as we would have liked but, if we meet up in the future I would like to take the chance that life provides and talk over a dinner or cup of coffee. I think of you everyday and I wish for your happiness when I do. You were such an inspiration and wonder to me. You were a light in my middle school days and you gave me someone to connect with. Thank you so much for being you and for staying strong. Wherever you are, I hope you thrive and find happiness.

Sixth Grade Friend,

Sarah "