I didn’t have a best friend until I was 16. Up till then, I was very lonely. Actually, I was close to my sister, but that was a different relationship. I was longing for someone to accept me as I was- emotional but empathetic. Could anyone care how I felt? I knew most people didn’t.

Melinda and I just clicked. I’m not sure why. She was my age, but behind a grade. I thought she was wise and I guess we saw eye to eye most of the time. We listened to each other because we had common interests.

This was such a welcome change. Usually, any one of peers would take me at face value which was not impressive. No one tried looking at me beyond my behavior, which a lot of the time I couldn’t help. I was ashamed and depressed before I made Melinda’s acquaintance. She saw me as I always wanted to be seen- a spiritual person.

See, we both were students at a private academy.

There was a lot of judgment going around. I thought I would never outrun my reputation.

Melinda never put on airs; she came from a poor family. I was also underprivileged. It was like we had to stick together; we had to have each other’s back. There were a lot of haters we had to stand up to.