Distance- Bond breaker or bond strengthener?

Denise and I had been friends since elementary school. We were chatterboxes as this is how the teachers would give a remark in our report cards. We always sat with each other and were seen talking.

I remember once, we were in different sections and we cried a lot. Finally, the teachers had to bring us both in the same class. 

Everyone knew about us being best friends. We were inseparable.

Once we grew up, we even started visiting each other’s place and having sleepovers. Our families got along well too. They were aware of our craziness for each other and didn’t mind it. They knew we both were good kids, focusing on studies along with play.

We were in the 9^th standard, when once we had a huge fight. Even though the issue was silly but the argument increased and we grew apart.

I tried setting things straight. I even apologized a lot. I tried to talk to her for days but she was just not ready.

Maybe, unknowingly I had hurt her a lot. It stung me seeing her every day away from me but I couldn't talk to her as she wasn't interested. Each time I would try and she would ignore me or move away as if I didn’t exist.

Suddenly, things had changed. Someone else had taken my place.

 Bella was now with Denise for most of the time. Seeing Denise with someone else made my heart ache. She was my best friend. She should have been with me.

Betty always had a soft corner for Denise and always wanted to be her best friend. Post Denise and my fight, Bella made most of this opportunity and tried coming close to her.

One evening after school, I called Denise. Her mom picked up the call. ‘’Hi, aunty. Is Denise there?’’, I asked.

‘’Yes child, I will transfer the line. ‘’, aunt Melinda replied. 

A few seconds later, Denise was on the phone but I just couldn’t mutter anything. I knew as soon as she would hear my voice, she would disconnect the call.

I, however, found peace in listening to her on the other line. This was the first exclusive and the only conversation we had over the months.

I cut the call and cried. I wasn’t able to take this.

Days passed. Soon, I tried to be normal. I knew I couldn’t live this way. It had been 6 months and I had apologized a lot. I decided to just live with the fact that things will never be the same again.

One day, she came to me during the recess and said, '' Hi Elle. I just want to say that we can be just friends. But not best friends like before. Things can't turn back the way they were. You enrolled yourself in the competition. But one day, I was on leave and you forgot to include me and enroll me with you. I can never forget this'' and she went away. Without even listening to what I had to say.

All my efforts seemed to have gone down the drain. 2 months later, I had made peace with whatever she had said. I had lost all hope that she would come back. Ever. We talked just like normal friends since we had a common friend circle. Things had changed and so had we. We were not together like before. She had found Bella and I had other friends.

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We entered the 10^th standard and I pledged to immerse myself in studies. It had been just a week and Denise was absent. This went on for a week, then two weeks. Soon, it was a month and Denise was nowhere to be seen.

This stressed me out. Denise had always been punctual. I feared if something was wrong as she never behaved this way.

I checked with Bella but she had no idea. I felt weird that being her so-called best friend, she had no clue of where was she, why was he not coming, and if she was fine.

My anxiety grew all the more. I tried calling her family’s phone numbers but all I could hear was, ‘the number you are trying to reach is unavailable or does not exist.’

This heightened my stress levels. I had nowhere to go or call and check about her.

Even though it was hard for me not to have an answer to her whereabouts, I, later on, gave up as nobody knew where she had vanished. I tried the best to find her but alas all efforts were in vain. I was just praying and hoping for her and her family’s well-being.

Life moved on and she never contacted me. Nor was she present on any of the social media platforms.

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Three years passed. Since I had just wrapped up my first semester exams, I was chilling at home.

 I was cooking supper one evening while listening to music on my cellphone. I was preparing mashed potatoes and cheese garlic bread.

‘I am making your favorite meal today. Miss you. Hope you are safe.’ I silently remembered the ‘someone special’ in my thoughts and prayed to God. Suddenly, I had a flashback of all the moments. I was engrossed in my thoughts when suddenly the music stopped and the phone rang. An unknown number flashed on the screen. 

 I answered it, ‘’ Hello. May I know who this is?’’

‘’Hello’’, the person on the other line said.

 I just froze. I recognized this voice. I knew the person so well that just a hello was enough for me to identify the person on the other side of the call.

'' Hello, are you there?'', the other person asked after a few seconds of waiting, bringing me back to reality.

I came back to my senses and shouted, ‘’Hello! Where the hell have you been? And how are you?’’

‘’Elle, You recognized me. I am so sorry. I had to go away.’’

''Of course, I do recognize you and your voice. You silly, how can I forget you. But why did you just disappear? I was hell scared. Where are you?'', I shot the questions back to back in a cracking voice as I was teary-eyed and couldn't control my emotions.

''I am sorry Elle. You are the best I have in my life. I was stupid back then babe. Dad suffered a major loss in the business. We had to shift to New Jersey. My relatives over there offered to help. We had a shortage of time. Hence, everything happened in a jiffy. But I miss you a lot. I gathered up the courage to call you today. I know it’s been long. But I just couldn’t resist myself from calling you today. I am so used to sharing my bad and good bits with you and listening to yours too. I was missing you and us. I love you. I promise I won't do it again. '', the other person continued breathlessly.

‘’I love you too. I had no information about your whereabouts. All I knew was that you have left the city. I was shocked. I had no means to track you down. You know you were the best for me too and will always be. I knew our 10-year-old bond couldn't have broken like this. '', my excitement and inquisitiveness were visible in my voice.  

Our conversation continued for a good two hours.

 Later that night, I shared the picture of the food with the person followed by a long text.

‘You called at the right time when I was cooking your favorite dish and was missing you. I guess its telepathy.

Growing apart doesn’t change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I am glad for that. And also that you called today, that you are back and it seems as if nothing has changed.  

We have spent so many years together and we spent a few years apart. But we couldn't separate from each other. The distance couldn’t change our bond. We are an important part of each other’s lives and will always be. Finally, Delle (Denise + Elle) is back in action. People have long-distance relationships but we have a long-distance friendship and we will succeed.

 Love you my best friend. So glad to have you back Denise. Good night my bestie. Miss you. '

And I dozed off with a relief that my best friend was back, this time forever. 

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It has been so many years since that incident happened and we are still together, sharing all the events, big or small with each other.

We visit each other whenever possible. We also keep in touch via texts and calls. 

Denise even got married three years back and is planning to start a family soon.

Our friendship won over the distance and all the challenges. Even though we miss each other a lot but we take out time for each other.

We believe the long-distance thingy has strengthened our bond all the more.

Well, Ally Condie rightly said, ‘growing apart doesn’t change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I am glad for that.’