IcanstillrememberthefirstdaywhenImetmybestfriend.Shehadjustmovedintotheneighborhoodandhergrandmotherwhoalsolivedintheneighborhoodbroughtherdowntomeetme.Ihidbehindmymotherandshehidbehindhergrandmother,scaredtolookateachother.Soon,welosttheshynessandstartedplayingwitheachother,bikeridingtoeachother'shouseandhavingsleepovers.In7thgrade,Ifirstlosttouchwithher.ShewasgoingthroughfamilyproblemsandIdesertedhertobewiththe"coolerpeople".NoneofmynewfriendslikedherasmuchasIdidbecausetheyknewshehad"problems".Howevereverysummerwewouldalwayssitateachother'shouseandwatchsoapoperas,eatDoritos(orwhateverjunkfoodhermomhadbought)andtalkaboutalltheboysweliked.

　　ItwaslastyearwhenInoticedtheproblem.IguessIwasjusttocatchupinhighschooltorealizesheneededsomeonethereforher.Well,shemadeanew"bestfriend"andsodidI.ThenIdidn'tknowwhy,butshestartedcuttingherself!

　　Shewasdiagnosedwithclinicaldepression,andhadtogotoahospitalduringtheday.Iwasveryupsetatfirstbutwiththelatenitecalls,andmeetingeachotherhalfwayupthestreetatmidnight.Westillstayedintouch.Iwantedtobethereforhersincehernewbestfriendbasicallydesertedhersincepeoplewerecallinghercrazy,andIknewIstillcaredaboutherlikeasister.

　　Yesterdayshecametomeandsaidthis:"Ineverknewwhatabestfriendwasuntilyouweretheonlypersonthatwouldstopmefromcutting;theonlypersonthatevermademefeelbetteraboutmyselfandmyproblems.Youdon'tknowthisbutIwastryingtokillmyselfthisoneniteyoucalledmeandIwascrying.Ioweyousomuch,andyoudidn'tevenknowyouwerehelpingme."

　　Webothcried.AndIguessakindoflessonfrommylifesofaristonevergiveuponyourfriends.Eveniftheyaren'tascoolasothers,orpeoplethinktheyarecrazy,theyneedsomeonethere.Ifyoudesertthem,youwillonlybemiserableyourself.Soifafriendneedsyou,andyoucareforthem,youcanneverdesertthem.