The Four Friends
Carrie, Tammy, Shelia, and Gretta were best friends since kindergarten. They did everything together: they played, studied, shopped, and gossiped. They had their own secret code, their own handshake, and their own nickname: the Four Friends.
They were inseparable until high school. That’s when things started to change. They went to different classes, joined different clubs, and made different friends. They had different interests, goals, and dreams. They grew apart.
Carrie was the smart one. She loved math and science and wanted to be an engineer. She joined the robotics club and the math team. She spent her free time reading books and solving puzzles. She made friends with other nerds who shared her passion for learning.
Tammy was the sporty one. She loved soccer and basketball and wanted to be a professional athlete. She joined the varsity teams and the fitness club. She spent her free time practicing and working out. She made friends with other jocks who shared her passion for winning.
Shelia was the artsy one. She loved music and painting and wanted to be an artist. She joined the band and the art club. She spent her free time composing songs and creating masterpieces. She made friends with other creatives who shared her passion for expressing herself.
Gretta was the popular one. She loved fashion and parties and wanted to be a star. She joined the cheerleading squad and the drama club. She spent her free time shopping and socializing. She made friends with other cool kids who shared her passion for impressing.
They rarely saw each other anymore. They had different schedules, different hangouts, and different cliques. They had nothing in common anymore. They drifted apart.
They missed each other sometimes. They remembered the good old days when they were the Four Friends. They wondered what the others were doing, thinking, and feeling. They wished they could talk to them again.
They tried to reconnect once in a while. They texted each other happy birthday or Merry Christmas. They met up for coffee or pizza once a month. They pretended everything was fine.
But it wasn’t fine. They felt awkward and distant around each other. They had nothing to say or laugh about anymore. They felt like strangers.
They realized they were no longer friends. They had grown up and grown apart. They had changed.
They said goodbye to each other at graduation. They hugged and smiled and wished each other good luck. They promised to keep in touch.
But they didn’t keep in touch. They went their separate ways: Carrie to MIT, Tammy to UCLA, Shelia to NYU, and Gretta to Hollywood.
They never saw each other again.
The Journey of Life 