“In life you will realize there is a role for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you, some will love you, and some will teach you. But the ones who are truly important are the ones who bring out the best in you. They are the rare and amazing people who remind you why it’s worth it.” – Unknown

In my lifetime I have met only a handful of people who meet this description. One of those people I never expected to mean so much to me.

She became my friend in seventh grade. It was a day that all the friends I sat with at lunch were absent. I was sitting there eating my sandwich listening to the people laughing and talking around me. Who I thought was one of the “cool girls” that was known for not listening and misbehaving in class came over to me. She plopped down next to me and asked “What are you up to sunshine?” I said “nothing.” I was surprised as to why she was doing this because I thought she wouldn’t be caught dead with the likes of me. She asked me why I was sitting by myself and I told her all my friends were absent. She then said “Well I’ll be your friend!” I told her that, no she didn’t have to but she insisted and literally pulled me over to her table promising me that she was going to get me out of my shell or die trying. I sat with her at lunch from that day until we graduated high school.

She and I were total opposites. She was open, loud, and care free. I was quiet, careful, and career-focused. She became one of my best friends in the whole world and we told each other EVERYTHING. She became like a sister to me. She was there through everything in high school as I was for her. We taught each other so much in the ways of life. She taught me what colors went together and I taught her how to organize and color code class materials.

When people were jerks she was one of the first people to stand up and defend me, even against myself when I was talking bad about myself. When people talked bad about her I spoke up for her and she was so surprised that someone cared enough.

She taught me a lot of things and she was so excited when I got accepted to my dream school with almost 20,000 dollars in scholarships. Although she wasn’t surprised because I was her smart Jazzy girl that could do anything school related. We had so many things planned for when I finished school and became her Dr. Smart Jazzy girl. But one thing I wasn’t ready for was her death.

I have never cried harder than I did when I got the news that she was gone. No more hugs, no more “I love you Jazzy”s, no boob punches, no more adventures. I couldn’t and didn’t want to wrap my mind around the fact that one of my best friends died and took a piece of my heart with her.

But what I realized after a lot of crying was that even though she died, our friendship didn’t. It lives on in our memories, pictures, notes, and thoughts. As long as I live she won’t be forgotten, even though it hurts, It hurt because our friendship mattered and I will love her forever.