Old Friends

My eyes gaze upon the last thing standing that represents my childhood with old friends. These friends have come and gone, ones that I thought cared for me, but that treehouse always stayed the same. It holds memories that I will cherish forever, even if some weren’t always good. All of my friends in those memories left and that was the saddest part to me. Over time I’ve learned that friends are temporary I know it isn’t good to think that way but I can‘t help but have trust issues after all my friends at the treehouse left me. This treehouse is simply to remind me of the good times and the bad times that came with friendship. Even the outside seems to stay the same it‘s just older and more sad looking. But, I wouldn’t change it for the world. A lot of my best memories were made here. I can’t believe that my friendships are all over. Am I that bad? What did I do so wrong? If I could say sorry I would. Or maybe they should have apologized. I look at the pink ladder leading up to the treehouse and begin to climb. This ladder used to be such a bright pink color but it faded over time. I begin to wonder if everything fades over time. Will my memories fade along with this treehouse? I was sure that day would come eventually. But, until then I will keep them both close to me. When I reach the top, my eyes wander across the wooden door leading to the inside. Near the top there are three little oval panels that were made as little windows to see inside and the door has a black doorknob. Everything that had ever been engraved into the door stayed along with the memories that came with it. “Julia and Melissa, besties 4 ever”, “Tammy was here“, “Rachel loves Julia!”, “Julia is my best friend - love Miles”, “Vanessa is Julia’s BFFL”. My eyes read many more and I smile at them as I gently push the door open. Once I‘m inside I lay on my back and stare at the ceiling. Stickers of different colored stars are sprawled across the whole ceiling. My friend Vanessa and I hung those up in the fifth grade. It took us 2 hours and we thought it was the hardest thing we’d ever had to do. I laugh thinking back on it now. There are posters of different boy bands and tv shows plastered on the walls with bean bag chairs in the corners, and some bored games and books on the shelf. Some memories are better than others but they all hold significant meaning one way or another. I look around the room and try to imagine that once upon a time, years ago I brought friends up here because it was my special place. We would share our deepest darkest secrets. I thought my friendships were a forever thing, not temporary. Who would have thought middle and high school friendships wouldn’t last. Oh yeah, everyone. But not me. All of the friends I had, their names, personalities, likes, dislikes and whatever else it may be, are permanently etched into my brain just like how they etched their names onto the treehouse door. There’s no way they are going anywhere. I’ve had way too many memories with these people to just let it go. But, thats all these will ever be I suppose. Memories. Just memories. But even if they are miles away and I will never see or talk to them again, my heart will always be connected to them. Even if they never want to see or speak to me again or have somehow forgotten I exist, my heart will always hold a special place for them. I close my eyes and a flood of memories wash over me like they never left and they didn’t, they were merely tucked in the deepest corner of my memory. Miles stood on the ladder etching into the door and I stayed below incase he fell. He was so terrified he would fall and I assured him he wouldn’t and he didn’t.

“You were right!” He laughed, exposing his perfect smile.

“Told you so!” I punched his arm playfully. Then we both climbed up and ate so many snacks we were too stuffed for dinner when my mom called for us to come down. When Tammy sat on the purple bean bag and me on the blue and we talked about our favorite things to do, eat, watch, and say, for hours. Rachel and I doing each others hair and laughing when they both turned out disastrous. Now, I remember this memory specifically because it wasn’t a good one. My best friend at the time came over to talk to me, but it started raining so we both climbed up the treehouse quickly. We shut the door and sat there for a moment in silence with the sound of the rain hitting the windows and the thunder crashing down outside. I don’t know how I knew, but I just knew in that moment, that she was going to end it. Our friendship felt different in those last moments. Her sad eyes, her avoiding eye contact and remaining silent. The worst part was, it rained for another hour so we had to sit there with each other until the storm passed. When it did she climbed down, and rode off on her bike without another word spoken. No goodbye, she just left. I never saw her again. The flood of memories subside and I open my eyes just to realize that I’m crying. Melissa was my best friend and that memory is the one that pains me the most. I get up, open the door to the treehouse, look at the bright blue sky and wipe the tears off my face. The air feels humid but there’s a nice breeze and the sun is shining bright. My hands are shaky but I manage to get a grip of the doorknob. I close the door and head down the ladder, leaving the memories inside until the next time I decide to visit this old treehouse once again, to say hello to some old friends.