(Wanna Facetime?)

The text from my best friend lit up my phone screen in the darkness of 12:30am. I opened it and didn’t even bother responding before pressing “Facetime.”

I smiled, and he immediately started laughing. This was typically how our interactions started off, but after the fit of laughing died down, it became solemn. It was the very early morning of the last day of summer, after all. And not even just the last day of summer. Senior year started tomorrow.

“So. Are you ready for tomorrow?”

“Hah. That’s funny. I haven’t even gotten my last binder,” I laughed nervously. “Are you?”

“Pretty much, yeah. I mean, physically I am. Probably not mentally, but it’s okay…”

I smiled and shook my head. “Honestly same.”

Senior year started, though, however unprepared we were, and it was okay.

——

(Are you free next week?) I texted my best friend.

(Unfortunately no)

(I have freshman orientation)

(Ugh. Mine doesn’t start for two weeks and I’m bored) I lamented.

(Also dreading it)

(Yep same)

(I feel so unprepared)

(Well think of it this way: remember when we had a very similar conversation before school started last year?)

(And it all turned out fine, I know)

(But still)

(Yeah I get it)

But freshman year started, and we got through it.

——

We sat down for lunch at a park near my work.

“Oh my god, there’s this one person on my business team who is SO ANNOYING.” My best friend grumbled.

“Yep. That’s why I didn’t go into business,” I pointed my form at them. “But I do have a piece that my client needs in a week that I haven’t started…” I perked up, remembering what I called this lunch for. “Also: big news… I’m getting married!!!!”

“Wow really?? That’s great! Are you excited?”

“Yes!!! But I’m also so nervous. I mean, I don’t know if I’m ready, you know?”

“Yeah for sure. I am not getting married anytime soon, if ever, to be honest.”

“Yeah.”

“Hey. Do you remember that classic conversation we’ve been having since, like, high school?”

“Of course. How could I forget?” I smiled, knowing what he was going to say.

“Well, we’ve gotten through everything before now, why would this be any different?”

I agreed, and we ate our lunch in comfortable silence.

I got married, though, and it was okay.

——

I looked out the window. The snow fell outside, and I couldn’t even be happy. This was the end. I could feel it. Today was the day.

Someone knocked on the door, and I murmured in my raspy old voice, “Come in.”

The door opened hesitantly, and I recognized the face of my lifelong best friends’ sister’s face.

“Hi.” She said. I must’ve looked confused, because she added, “I have some news.”

This did nothing to clue me in, but her face did it enough. Her eyes were red and puffy, like she’d just been crying.

“What happened?” I asked, even though I had already guessed.

“He… had a stroke.” She looked down. “He’s almost… He doesn’t have much time left.”

My eyes pricked with tears. “No. That isn’t- I can’t- I need to go see him,” My voice broke, but I didn’t care. “Call the doctor. I’m leaving if they don’t come in five minutes.”

They came soon enough, and I forced them to wheel me over to his room.

He looked bad, but I went up to him. “Caleb,” I whispered. He didn’t open his eyes, or give any sign that he heard me. “It’s gonna be okay. Remember that one conversation?” I smiled sadly. “We’ll get through it, just like everything else. And we’ll both be in the next life. I’m going today too.” Tears ran down my cheeks at the thought of losing my best friend. But it would be okay. “In a way, this is a happy ending for the both of us.”