Best Friends Till Death Do Us Part
by Brooklyn Castle
Do you have someone you can trust your life with? Someone who will stick by your side no matter what? Someone you never want to lose? I have that someone, and that is my best friend Shelby. She is a friend anyone would be grateful to have, and not everyone has that kind of friend. I am so lucky to have her in my life; I don’t know how I deserved to have her. I can remember all of the fun times we had together, including when we first met, vacations, sharing our graduation party, all our shared memories, and even some scary moments. If I could, I would write a whole book about her. We are practically sisters. It is fate that we met when we did and how. Shelby is now and always will be like family to me.
It was the year of 2017, in 5th grade, when our friendship blossomed. After lunch hour was over, all the kids were sent to the playground. There were kids playing basketball at the center, girls playing double dutch, and some playing at the jungle gym surrounded by rubber mulch. That is where almost everyone played, and that was where I was. That day I just felt like sitting and watching the clear blue sky without playing with others. I was wearing my school uniform with a khaki skirt, a blue navy skirt, light up shoes and my brown hair in a ponytail. Then a girl approached me. She was wearing the same uniform as I was, but she wore her blonde hair down. I figured she must have thought I was lonely, so she sat next to me and introduced herself. She told me her name is Shelby and I told her my name. We started talking, and coincidentally found out we were going to the same campground on the same weekend. We decided to meet up and introduce our families so we could play together.
After that week passed, it was time for our weekend camping trip. I was so excited to see my new friend. We exchanged phone numbers so she could find my camper. We went to a Cajun Palms RV Resort, which to my eyes was paradise. As my siblings and I were getting things out of my dad’s truck, my new friend called to ask where I was. She quickly found me, and she had her mom and dad with her. Shelby’s parents, Mr. Adam and Mrs. Johnson, came over to introduce themselves. Shelby and I were in disbelief when we found out something shocking. As it turns out, Mr. Adam already knew my family. He used to work with my dad’s mom when he was 19, and also knew my aunts. It must have been fate that brought us together. We spent the whole day together swimming at the public pool, riding our hoverboards, shopping in the candy store, playing mini golf near the pool, and enjoying our first sleepover. Mrs. Johnson asked if I wanted to sleep over at their camper. She doesn’t usually allow Shelby to have a friend sleep over until she knows them for a little while or knows the parents better, but since Mr. Adam knew us already, she was okay with it. That weekend, Shelby and I became good friends.
After a few years, we became so close we were inseparable. We had sleepovers all the time, especially during the school week. Our parents were okay with that since Mrs. Johnson worked at our middle school, and she would take us to school. During middle school, when there were dress up days, we always did them together. In fact, we did everything together at school. She made my middle school years very memorable and fun. My most fond memories with her include all the times we went to Cracker Barrel. You see, Shelby, her mom, and I would always go shopping together. Everytime we did, we went to Cracker Barrel. They once told me when they went there without me, it felt strange to not have me there with them. When there was no hashbrown casserole left, they did not want to eat there, so they called me and asked if I wanted to go eat somewhere with them. It made me feel so loved that they would not go without me. Over time, Shelby and I started to become like each other’s family. We are like sisters and best friends for life. Her mom and dad started calling me their “other daughter.” Even her grandparents call me their granddaughter. Shelby was an only child, but that changed when I came around.
When we were in high school, something happened to Shelby’s dad that changed her family’s lives; that includes mine as well. Shelby got the news that her dad went to the hospital while she was out of town. She was told that something was wrong with his kidney. It devastated her. When she told me, I was so worried and feeling so upset. It hurt my heart to see them in such a sad situation. During that time, they were able to manage and be their happy selves. One day, I told them that I was willing to give my kidney for Mr. Adams, and I was serious. I knew I was a match, and I wanted to help in any way I could because I care for and love them so much. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing any of them. They did not want me to experience any risks to my health, so they said I should not. Luckily, Mr. Adams was able to get a kidney, and we were thrilled. When I realized that I would help them anyway I could by offering to give my kidney, I knew that this was my family. Family is worth fighting for, and I would do anything for Shelby and her parents.
If there is someone like my best friend that you have in your life, hold on to them. Hold on tight and never let go. If I ever let go, my life would be incomplete without Shelby and her family. I miss them every day because I’m at college, away from my hometown. I miss being silly around her, having our sleepovers, watching scary movies or videos, and being one hundred percent myself when I’m with her. We will always be best friends, and will be till death do us part.