Calendars have come and gone,fluttering away in the gales of time. Seasons have bloomedand withered along the way. I still ponder,where did you go?

Even after all these years, I remember my first friend, as fresh as the morning dew on petals,as vivid as the afternoon sun,as wild as the seedling jutting through concrete,as brave as the lone eagle soaring high.

We pranced around in dangling ponytails and pigtails,laced with ribbons and jewels.With loud giggles,we swung the blades of crayons on the walls.We scribbled our days away,etching castles and wonderlands. With our feet in the lake,you dared me to chuck my stone across the lake, farther than yours.You grinned wider than the Cheshire cat,at my bulging cheeks of food, looking like a dorky squirrel with a mouthful of nuts. My tantrums and tempest always quelled when you mimed my sullen pout and tickled the loudest chuckles out of me.

Our cardboard swords swatted away thevicious dragon-like flies, spiders and other insects from our home.You and I dilly-dallied our evening away, chasing dandelions in the winds of dusk.And like the little spies, we were,we tiptoed to the kitchen late at night,to savour the chocolate ice creamand eavesdropped on the sleeping world.

I remember you had the most brazen fashion,ruffles and floppy hat,lace and bow tie,rainbow sprouting wand and bottomless purse. But I wonder whyyou donned the plain old invisibility cloak around everyone.Pity, that no one ever saw your scintillating style and charisma. They sighed and uttered Imaginary with a patronizing smile.

How could you be imaginary?To me, you felt real, as real as the beating heart,as real as the touch of my frock's fabric on my skin.

To my anguish, the world jinxed you, for you grew fainter by day. Your dance tangled your legsand the colours of your crayons paled.No longer could your purse hold infinity within.Your wand drooped at an odd angleand flickered akin to the dimming light in your eyes. The floppy hat which made you fly was tattered at its edges.

But your smile was the brightest,until the very end,until I couldn't see you anymore.

Thank you,for your strength and smile,which I have imbibed in more ways than one. I carry your smile every day.

For I know,somewhere out there,shrouded under your invisibility cloak,you are applaudingand daring me to throw the stone further than everyone else,daring me to take on the world,one step at a time.