Lifeisfulloflaughterandtears.Sadnessisalwaystiedwithparting,andthelasttimeIcriedwaswhenmybestfriendleft.

　　JamesandIwerebestfriendsintheworld.Thekindoffriendsthatwouldtalkaboutanything.Hewastheonewhohelpedmewhenthere'sachallenge,andcheeredmeupwhenIwasdown.However,lifejustdoesn'tgothewayweplanned.LastDecember,James'sfathergotajobinNewJersey,andwholetheirfamilyismovingtherewithhim,alongwithJames.Bestfriendsmaynotstaytogetherforever,butIhadneverexpectourpartingittocomesofast.Ourfatewasdecided.

　　Beforeheleft,wedecidedtohangoutforonelasttime,justthetwoofustogetherforawalkaroundmyneighbourhood.Theweatherwasdepressingcoldthatday.Waterpuddleshavefrozenintoice.Windblewonourcheeks,andbothofusjustwalkedwithoutaword.Iwantedtosaysomethingtocheerhimup,butnowordscameoutofmymouth.Wekeptwalkingalongthestreet,theworldwassilent.

　　Itwashimwhospokefirst:"Hey,don'tbesosad.We'refriendsright?Wepromisedtobefriendsforeverright?Thenwaitforme.Evenifwecan'tseeeachother,westillcancall.Ithinkmyfather'scontractendsaftertwoyears,andthat'swhenI'llbeback,sowaitforme,andeverythingwillbethesameagain."Iturnedtowardshimandforcedoutasmile.Ialreadyknewwhat'sgoingtohappen,andit'snotassimpleashesaid.MyfamilyisplanningtoimmigratetoCanada,andthiswouldbepermanent.Icouldnotletmyselftotellhimthis.Thewordsaretoopainful,anditstuckinmythroatithurts.Ididn'twanthimtofindout.Ididn'twanttogiveuphopesosoon.IpretendtolookatmywatchandsaidIneedtogo.Ididn'tevenwaitforhimtoreplybeforeIturnedaroundandrunback.Mytearsburstoutofmyeyesuncontrollably,andthiswasthelasttimeIseehimandalsothelasttimeIcried.

　　Now,JameshasalreadyleftforNewJersey.Wearestillintouch,butithurtseverytimeIthinkaboutthefuture.IhopeIwillbeabletotellhimthetruthsoon,butIamnotreadyyet.Thefutureistoofaraway.IwanttoenjoythepresentasmuchasIcan.