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Serenity was a young girl of the age of 10 when she met her new neighbor Crystal. She was coming home from school one day when she saw the movers truck pulling into the driveway beside her house. Living in a small town her whole life and not having many friends her age was hard on Serenity. She prayed to God every night asking for a new friend for her to play with and tell all of her secrets to. Seeing the movers truck made her excited, running into the house Serenity dropped her bags by the door and yelled to her mom, 'Mommy, I am going to go over and meet the new neighbors. Is that ok?'

Knowing her mother was most likely in the kitchen making their afternoon snack they always shared together she walked into the kitchen. Seeing the sandwiches and apple slices on the table and her mom smiling from behind the counter, Serenity smiled and grabbed an apple slice. In between munching on the apple slices, Serenity asked her mother again, 'Mommy, do you mind if I go over and meet the new neighbors?'

Her mother looked at her with a smile and told her, 'No darling, but I would prefer if I went with you. Grab some apples and we will have the sandwiches when we get back.' Seeing her daughters eyes light up she smiled wider and put the food in the refrigerator. Walking out the back door, she made her way to the front of the house with Serenity following.

Serenity came around the house and saw the movers carrying a girls toys into the house. Getting excited she welcomed the newcomers to their new house. She saw the parents, but it was awhile before their daughter came back outside. She was a cute girl the same age as Serenity meaning they would be in the same class together in school. Serenity was very excited, when Crystal came outside, Serenity noticed there was something different with this little girl. Her size was smaller and she had a scarf on her head with what looked like no hair.

Meeting Crystal was fun and sad at the same time. Serenity introduced herself and her mother to the new girl and they became quick friends. Serenity and Crystal soon became inseparable. After making a play date for the next day at Serenity's house, she and her mother went back home to allow the new neighbors their privacy and time to unload the truck.

The next day after lunch time, Crystal came to play over at Serenity's house. They played in the back yard and in her room. Serenity finally had someone to share her toys with, being an only child was hard on her. They played for hours, until it was time for Crystal to go home for dinner. They promised to see each other the next day.

Days and weeks passed as Serenity and Crystal became the best friends, Serenity had prayed and prayed for. One night Crystal was sleeping over and Serenity asked her why she always wore the scarves on her head. Crystal had been waiting for the question and replied, 'I have leukemia. It is a disease and I have to go through chemotherapy in order to get better. Some days are worse, but since I moved here I have been doing better.'

Serenity knew what the disease was and it made her sad that her new best friend had it. She didn't let the news get her down though, she wanted Crystal to be happy and to always feel welcomed in her house. They were best friends and they did everything together. As the months passed they only became closer.

Then the unforeseen happened. Crystal had a relapse and became very ill. She had to be taken to the hospital in the bigger town nearby. Serenity was devastated, here was the friend God had sent her and now she was sick and in the hospital, she had a high chance of losing her friend. After she had her mom take her to the hospital to visit Crystal, she seemed to be better. In fact both girls looked like they were better. Crystal was able to come home after only 2 days after Serenity visited her.

Serenity had to go to Crystal's house more often now, because Crystal's parents were worried she would get sick again. Three years passed and Crystal and Serenity turned 13 and they were both still the best of friends. Crystal was doing great and it seemed like her leukemia was doing good with the chemo she was getting.

On the night of their first dance, Serenity's life changed forever. They were at the dance and Crystal became lightheaded and her nose began to bleed really bad. Serenity called their moms and told them to come pick them up. They went to the hospital that night and Crystal was worse off then anyone had thought. Serenity sat with Crystal for 4 days in the hospital.

She prayed and stayed awake to watch Crystal and just wanted her best friend to get better. Unfortunately for them both, Crystal didn't get any better. She only got worse, she was in the hospital for a little over two months. Serenity was devastated worse this time. She knew in her heart she was losing the only best friend she would ever have. The last day Serenity went to the hospital was her friends' last day on this earth.

As Serenity sat there on the bed talking to Crystal and holding her hand, she heard Crystal whisper, 'I was brought here to help you grow and to give you a friend. I will always be in your heart, but I can feel God calling me home. Don't tell my Momma to come in here. I want to go with only you in here.' As tears slipped down both of their faces and gathered on their shirts over their hearts.

Serenity looked down at her friend and smiled a brilliant smile with tears dropping from her bright blue eyes. Whispering back through tears, 'Crystal, you are more then a friend to me. You are the sister I never had. I am glad I had the time to know you and grow to care for you deeply. You will always be in my heart and I will never forget you EVER!' Serenity squeezed her best friends hand and then laid her forehead on Crystals.

Knowing she was losing her friend, but also knowing Crystal was going to Heaven she smiled. As Crystal smiled back and took her last breath she told Serenity, 'I love you and always will. Tell my momma and daddy I love them.' As she took that last breath Serenity finally knew she had shared a special love with this friend. She whispered, ' I love you too! You will be remembered and loved by us all. Tell Jesus I said thank you for bringing you into my life.' As she told her friend that, she hugged Crystal and saw her close her eyes and a big smile come across her face. She knew she was with Jesus now.

Serenity laid there for a few more minutes and prayed to God thanking him for bringing her a friend she could love unselfishly. She also thanked him for taking her home and holding her in his arms. After she was done praying, she kissed Crystal's cheek and whispered again, 'I love you.' Getting up she went to tell their parents the news. They all held one another and cried.

On the day of the funeral Serenity felt Crystal there holding her hand and helping her through it. The day was bright and sunny just as Crystal would have wanted it. She kissed the rose before throwing it in and told her she loved her again. After the funeral she went home and cried for a little while. Knowing she had found someone to be a sister to and to love her as a friend and she will never forget that.




Summer Rayne
Oct. 1, 2006
4:35 AM