You,

You always been there for me just because

Yeah true,

True I’ll always be there for you just because

That’s what a friend does

It’s the chorus from “The Friend Song” by Wayne Kerr

But how should I write a story about friendship? Should it be a happy start with a sad ending or sad start with a happy ending? But I guess all friendships should have a happy ending, no matter what happens in between. True friendships never die and always remain in our heart forever. So this is my “Friend Story”.

Ivory and Adaire had known each other since they were babies as both their mothers were best friends. And like their mothers, they too grew up to be best of friends. They would do everything together, cycling to and back from school, watching movies, shopping, sneaking out from the house middle of the night, getting punishment and detention, everything, you name it they did it together. No matter what happens they will always be together, that’s their promise to each other.

Not only that, they have almost everything in common. They love the same food, listened to same types of songs, the same clothes and the same make up.  They even share the same birth date and both were 17.

The only different about them were their looks. Ivory had a beautiful long blond hair while Adaire’s hair was messy long and dark brown. Ivory had beautiful sea blue eyes while Adaire had light brown eyes.  

Life had been so great for both of them, but it soon changed on their 17th birthday. It was when they knew that Adaire had a heart disease which required a heart transplant immediately. Without the transplant she might not survive and the doctor assumed that she would last only for 6 month if they couldn’t find anyone to donate a heart to Adaire. 

It has been 4 months now and they still couldn’t find a donor. Adaire was getting weaker and bed ridden all the time. She and Ivory were unable to do things together since she was sick but no matter what, Ivory would come and visit her after school without missing a single day. During weekends Ivory would stay with Adaire the whole day. She would update Adaire with the latest gossip in school.

“You shouldn’t waste you time here everyday Ivy,” said Adaire one day. “You should go out and have fun instead of spending your time with me here,” looking so weak. 

“I love being here,” replied Ivory. “I would rather be with you Ada, then spending time with others.” 

“I know and I appreciate that, but you have a life too Ivy. I’m not fun anymore. I’m a boring person. I’m helpless and have to be in bed all the time,” sighs Adaire. 

“No, you’re not a boring person, Ada,” scolded Ivory. “You would do the same if it was me. I know you will always be there for me and you know I’ll be there for you too. That’s what friend does,” she pointed. 

Adaire looked at her with tears in her eyes, “I love you Ivy,” and they hugged.  

Time passed by fast but there was still no donor for Adaire. Ivory cried looking at her friend who now so looked so fragile with the tubes and wire all over her body. Adaire has been in coma since last two days but Ivory   never left her friend’s side with their hands claps together. Tears keep falling down from her eyes praying to God to let her friend survive. How she wished she had two hearts and would be able to give one to her friend right now. 

“I think you better go home and rest, Ivy,” said Adaire’s mother looking at her with sad eyes. 

“I don’t think I want to leave her, Aunt Vicky,” she shook her head. “I don’t want Adaire to miss me when she wakes up,” she said sadly. 

“Don’t worry dear,” said Adaire’s dad. “I think she knows you are always at her side. You need to go home and have some rest. Adaire wouldn’t want you to be sick because of her,” he soothed.

She looked at both of them and then at Adaire, “All right, but promise you’ll call me if anything?” 

“We will sweetheart.” They both nodded. 

She walked over to Adaire bed and kissed her friend goodbye, “I love you Ada,” she whispers with tears keep running down her eyes. Biding goodbye to both Adaire’s parents, she walked out from the hospital to her car. 

She cried all the way home and her mind was on Adaire all the time and she kept blaming fate for what happened to her friend. As she kept thinking about it, she didn’t realise that she had driven her car into the middle of the road and a truck was coming the opposite way. All she could do was screaming! 

Adaire woke up with a beeping sound from a machine. She looked at her surroundings and saw both her parents were sleeping on the couch.  

“Mom,” she called out. 

Her mother quickly woke up nudging her dad and they both went to her, “Baby, you are finally awake,” they said smiling and hugging her. 

“What happened?” she asked them. 

“You had a heart implant,” her dad told her. 

“Someone donated his heart?” Adaire asked again. They both nodded but with sadness in their eyes.

“Where’s Ivy?” she asked. 

Her mom cried and looked at her dad, “She’s resting,” told her dad. Why don’t you just rest?” her dad told her softly. 

She nodded her head, “Wake me up when she arrives?” she told them. Her mom cried again while her dad just nodded sadly. 

It has been a month since Adaire woke up from her surgery but Ivory never came to visit. Where is she? Adaire kept asking. She missed her best friend. 

Later that evening Ivory’s parents came to visit her.  All of them including her parents and families had the same sad faces. 

“Where’s Ivy?” Adaire asked Ivory’s parents. 

Ivory’s mom cried and Adaire’s mother went to comfort her, “She’s not coming to visit you anymore Adaire,” Ivory’s dad told her sadly. 

“Why?” asked Adaire crying. 

“Because,” Ivory’s father hesitated, “Ivory died in an accident when you were still in coma,” he continued softly and both Ivory’s mom and Adaire’s mother cried while both their dads hugged her. 

“It can’t be true, please tell me it’s not true,” cried Adaire. 

“I’m sorry dear,” soothed her dad, “I’m so sorry.” 

Ivory’s mom came to her, “She might not be with us any longer, but her heart remains with us,” she said smiling sweetly with tears in her eyes. 

Adaire looked at her with a big question in her teary eyes, “Yes dear,” nodded Ivory’s mom, “You have her heart.” 

Adaire cried hearing this. She had Ivory’s heart, her best friend’s heart inside her. Ivory has kept her promised to always be with her by giving her heart for Adaire to take care and that’s what Adaire would do for as long as she shall live. 

How do I know such a story? You might ask? Well, that’s because I’m Adaire and even though it happened long time ago but it feels like yesterday. Ivory will always be a big part of me and we will always be together as promised. Yeah, it is true, she always been there for me like I will always be there for her, because that’s what a true friend does.