Friendship


Jessica

 God works in mysterious ways.  Just like a serial novel, no one can predict exactly what will happen until the next chapter is printed out.  My reunion with A-ya, my best friend ever, was one of those unexpected things and I'd never thought we would become intimate friends again.

A-ya was my best friend in high school.  I wonder how many people can go through the ups and downs of life together with mutual trust and caring like us.  Even Castor and Pollux may envy our friendship, which I once thought to be the most valuable and pleasant treasure from God.  However, the wall that protected our friendship crumbled in our third year in high school—the most stressful period of time when we were both occupied with the college entrance exam.  It turned out that my ideal university accepted me while A-ya failed at her application.  From then on, she turned away fom me and isolated herself.  Unable to get any response from her, I felt deserted and saddened.

The cold war between us lasted until the commencement.  After the ceremony, she suddenly emerged and gave me a ticket with a note which said, 「It』s a one-way ticket to happiness.  I』m sorry that I cannot accompany you on your journey; however, I still hope that we can meet at the destination someday in the future. 」

Tears drenched the ticket in my hand.  It felt like someone had taken out all my energy and my hope dissolved like Aspirin in hot water.

Several months later I was at the train station doing my routine—finding a ticket in piles of ID cards, standing in the elevator with expressionless commuters, and pacing up and down to search for a deserted spot on the platform 2.  Suddenly someone caught my eye unexpectedly.  My heart pounded so hard that it almost stopped.  A train arrived and noisy crowds began passing by me, yet my eyes were fixed on the smile under the dim light.  It was A-ya who was sitting on the bench.

We greeted and hugged each other just like the old days.  Sunshine spilled over the vacant seats, and all the memories of those good old days I had with her appeared in front of me just like an old film.  A-ya confessed to me that she had blamed herself for not doing her best in realizing our dreams.  It took her a long time to pick up the pieces, but she was determined to change her fate.  Now she is a student at her dream university, too.

When A-ya gave me that touching note with the train ticket, I was in such despair that I thought I would never see her again.  Yet, under God』s mysterious influence, A-ya and I are on the same train of life again.

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