“What!” I looked at horror at a classmate of mine who told me that my best friend was absent. A wave of emotions passed over my face, beginning with shock first, then betrayal, for she didn’t bother to tell me before being absent, and finally worry as I came to realise how I would spend the entire day at school without her.

Of course, for some, it may be weird how I was overreacting at something as small as my best friend getting absent, but the truth was, she was my support system and literally the only one with whom I got through the long school day.

The morning passed easily, in work and studies. Everyone asked me where my “other half” was, considering we were always seen together. By the time recess time arrived, I was quite consumed with all the study material that I almost forgot her absence.

So when the bell rang for lunchtime, reality hit me like a pile of bricks once again. Now I kept thinking that I was in school without my best friend for my support. What will others say when they see me roaming around the school alone? What would I do if someone made fun of me? How will I bear this?

I tried to calm myself by using tricks like telling myself ‘You can do your homework during the lunchtime’, ‘You’re only dramatising the situation’ or ‘It’s just for one day, and that also 20 minutes, it won’t be that hard.’

Sure this pretty much made the situation better but, nonetheless, I was sure that things won’t end well that day.

Slowly but steadily, lunchtime also passed making me happy with the thought of going home. I have to say I’m quite proud of myself as I managed to go through the lunchtime by busying myself in the long queue of the canteen, which I was thankful for once.

The day not only made me realise that it isn’t so bad being alone but also confirmed the fact that my best friend was not going to survive once I got my hands on her.

A lesson learnt for life: being able to survive independently is important, probably as important as leaves on a tree. But along with that, cherishing your friends and your loved ones is also extremely important. You won’t know the value of something before you lose it.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 1st, 2017