Long lost friend

A letter came for Pink one morning. The handwriting on the envelope looked familiar. It brought back a lot of memories from when she was still in third grade.

“Hi, I’m Joseph. May I sit here?” a new boy came to class and sat beside Pink.

“Sure, no problem,” she answered. They chatted on and became really close. They would defend each other against bullies. They became best friends.

The next day – “Pink, your friend Joseph dropped by this morning, but you were still asleep. He said something about playing ball. He said he’ll be back to pick you up at around nine,” Mrs. Belleza told her daughter.

The other players didn’t come, so both of them spent the whole time talking. Joseph told Pink that his family was moving to another city and that he will have to change schools the week after that. She was saddened by the news, but promised each other to write a letter every week through his older cousin.

Every Saturday, a blue envelope would come with Joseph’s letter inside. Pink was delighted every time she read his letters. She never delayed in sending her reply. She looked forward to reading something from him every weekend.

One Saturday morning, she waited at her doorstep for Joseph’s cousin. He came but didn’t drop by. She ran after him and asked, “Kuya Ryan, did you forget to give me Joseph’s letter?”

“I’m sorry, Pink, but he didn’t hand me anything to give you.”

Pink’s face fell. “Impossible!” she thought. “Really? So, would you please wait for a few minutes? I will write him a short letter. Please give it to him, okay?” Before Ryan could answer, she ran upstairs and wrote a letter for his friend.

Weeks came and passed, still no reply, still no letter. Ryan wouldn’t tell Pink anything, so she had no way of knowing what happened to Joseph. Years passed and she outgrew her longing for her friend who never wrote back.

“Hey, Pink! Why are you just staring at that envelope? Aren’t you going to read what’s inside?” Mrs. Belleza tapped her daughter’s shoulder. She couldn’t believe it. It has been four years since their letter-writing. Pink opened the letter and read:

“Dear Pink, wow are things with you? Do you still remember me? I’m sorry that it took me forever to write back. Things got so bad in our family back then. I hope you forgive me.

I have good news! My family is visiting the neighborhood on the first Sunday of next month! Can I drop by your place in the morning? – Joe”

Joseph came as promised. They chatted and laughed the whole morning. Pink almost couldn’t believe that her long lost friend came back. “True friendship really never expires,” she happily thought to herself.