Best Friend EM Whitman

 

                                             

I never knew I would look back at a toxic relationship and be thankful that I had it, but if

it wasn’t for, let’s say his name is Robby, I would’ve never met my best friend.

 

I was friends with Robby for many years, but as we got older, he started hanging out with the

wrong crowd, and our friendship grew toxic.

 

I learned that best friends make an effort in staying friends; it’s not one-sided, and it shouldn’t

feel like you’re the only one keeping the relationship together.

 

I was excited. After being busy for so long, Robby finally came to the youth group again,

and he brought a friend. Someone, he said, I was guaranteed to like.

 

She walked in right after him. She had tan skin, black hair, brown eyes, a Hello Kitty hoodie, and

a perfume-like smell.

 

“Hi, I’m EM,” I said, sounding shy.

 

“I’m Zoe,” she said. 

 

Zoe, Robby, and I hung out at youth group, then, before we all left, we exchanged social media

accounts.

 

“I actually have my tablet taken away, so it might take a while to answer your request,” I said.

 

“No worries.”

 

One day, when I was done with school, I rushed to my mom’s room and grabbed my tablet to

talk to my new friend. It had been two weeks since I had seen her at youth group.

 

“Hey, Zoe, this is EM. How are you?” I texted.

 

“Oh, hey! I’m good!” She replied.

 

”That’s good. Why haven’t you been going to youth group lately?”

 

“I didn’t know if Robby was still going or not.”

 

“Oh, what happened?” I asked.

 

“Robby and I got into a fight and aren’t talking anymore. He and I were thinking about dating, but he didn’t like that we were still in the talking stage. So he started fat shaming me and calling me all sorts of things.”

 

“Oh, I’m sorry, but he doesn’t come unless I invite him, so you come Wednesday!”

 

“I will!”

 

After that, Zoe and I got closer; she even became good friends with my sister, Lila. We

created our own little friend group at youth camp. We hung out with Tory, Jenna, Courtney, and

Lila, but they weren’t as close as Zoe and I. We were there for each other through the highs and

lows.

 

Later that year, Zoe told me she was heading back to Hawaii in a month. I couldn’t believe it, I

had just made a best friend and she was leaving. It was rare for me to even make friends, so I

was sad knowing my best friend wasn’t going to be by my side anymore.

 

It was our last night at youth group together. Tory, Jenna, Courtney, Lila, and, most of all, Zoe

was there.

 

“I can’t believe you’re leaving tomorrow!” I said, sobbing.

 

“I know,” she said, tears running down her cheeks.

 

We pulled each other into a hug, and I said, “I know you don’t like him anymore, but I’m glad

you knew Robby. If you didn’t, I wouldn’t have found my best friend.”

 

She pulled out of the hug and smiled slightly, tears still running down her cheeks.

 

When her mom arrived, we all walked her to her car and gave her a group hug. As she was

driving away, we followed her car while waving goodbye till she left the parking lot.

 

Zoe helped me through a lot, and still is, and I do the same for her. If I never met her, I don’t

know how I’d be now, I probably would still be friends with Robby. But I don’t need to know

the what-ifs of the past; I’m just thankful I have her as a friend.

 

Because of her, I now know that friends are there for each other no matter the distance, and

there are always silver linings; some are just harder to see than others.

 

In previous relationships, I was the only one making an effort to stay connected, but Zoe taught

me that friendships are not one-sided and don’t use you for personal gain. She taught me the

true meaning of best friends forever.