6: Of Greetings and Goodbyes

Asia lay on the bathroom floor, face meeting the dirty maroon bath mat as she inhaled deeply, attempting to stifle the sobs that continued to interrupt her thoughts. Tracing a long, crimson scar that stretched itself across her left forearm, she racked her brain for times when things were different; before everything went wrong. When they were happy. When she was happy. It seemed impossible to remember back as far. She decided to start with fifth grade. It seemed innocent enough. Fifth grade… what went on in fifth grade? Something memorable? Then it came to her, springing into her mind instantaneously. Alex. How could she forget Alex?


The day dawned cold. It was a typical grey September morning in New England. The birds had not bothered to rouse themselves to meet the frost-laced grass, the air bit innocent faces as children made their way to school. Asia awoke to a gentle shake from her mother.

“Get up, hun, it’s time for school,” she said softly.

She left the room and Asia sat up in bed, stretching to a ceiling draped with scarves and paper crafts. Another school year had begun. She wasn’t exactly thrilled to begin school again. After all, who’s to say it would be any different? The other kids never talked to her, played with her, or even acknowledged her. She was ignored. She was invisible. Yet some part of her kept hoping this year would be different.

She arrived at the school building, waiting silently by a decaying chain-link fence as the other children bounced their balls and skipped their ropes. Finally the bell rang and she entered a familiar classroom. Fifth grade… another year closer to graduation. Did she feel any different? It was almost surreal. The children laughed and whispered behind their hands as she crossed the room to find her seat. But looking beside her she found an unfamiliar face.

He was small, with scraggly, sandy blonde hair and thick, dark-rimmed glasses. Like her, he was clearly out of place among the others. His pants were too short, his sneakers too big, nearly drowning in a shirt scrawled with an anonymous anime character. But there was something else unusual about this awkward, gangly boy; she couldn’t put her finger on it. Then she realized what was so different about him – he smiled.
At her?

“I’m Alex,” he said warmly, grinning with a self-assured confidence that was foreign to Asia herself.
“H-hello…I’m Asia.” She looked away.
He seemed encouraged by her shyness. “Want to see a drawing?” he asked excitedly. And before she had time to respond, he had shoved into her hands a paper with a skilled caricature of an anime-style tiger scrawled across it.
“Wow...” said Asia, awestruck. “It’s beautiful!” She knew a good drawing when she saw one.
“I knew you’d like it.” He sat back in his chair and folded his arms, a satisfied smile stretching across his face.
“But… how did you know?” she replied, confused.
“I could just tell.”

The two became inseparable. They spent nearly every day after school at one house or another, drawing, playing video games or cards, talking, laughing. Any second apart was a second wasted. And Asia had never been happier. Alex was her first friend, and he was never unkind to her, something Asia was not accustomed to. They never fought and for once, someone Asia cared about had not tried to hurt her. It soon seemed that they were closer than being simply friends.

That following summer was the best of Asia’s life. She found a second home at Alex’s house, and her parents didn’t mind her staying over for days at a time. He taught her how to draw anime, and they spent hours on end fabricating storylines and comic books, never tiring of each other. Together they lazed in the grass on the endless warm nights gazing at stars, and dreaming of traveling to the ends of the earth, to the ends of the galaxy.

Alex lazily extended a finger at the brightest glowing object above them. “Venus,” he said casually.
Asia smiled. But suddenly an unsettling thought sprang into her head. “Alex, can you promise me something?”
He rolled on his side to face her. “Is something wrong?”
“You’re… you’re the best friend I’ve ever had. The only friend I’ve ever had. It’s just…” She broke off, bringing her hands to her face with a sigh.
“It’s just, what?”
She rotated her head, looking directly into his aquamarine irises.
“Promise me… you won’t leave.”
He hesitated for a moment, taking in her words, before he replied.
“I promise.”
“Really?” She was unsure of his sincerity.
“I could never leave you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
She smiled, and he returned the favour, slipping his hand into hers as they watched a shooting star grace the sky.


That night they vowed one day they’d see everything, the good and the bad; before they died… they’d do everything, go everywhere, together. Another summer, maybe ages away. A summer to live without restrictions. Their summer. They sealed their plans as the first hint of daylight began to creep into the horizon.

One late August day as Asia was getting ready for the day ahead of her, she heard the doorbell ring. Sure it was Alex with plans, she called down the stairs, “I’ll be right there… just let me finish up here.”

Soon after she came bounding down the stairs and threw open the door, expecting to find her best friend waiting there. But instead she was met with an empty stoop. No, not quite empty… there was a piece of paper fluttering in the breeze, wedged between the closed screen door and its frame. Confused, Asia pulled it out, opening it to read.

Asia,
By the time you read this I will already be gone. We’re moving away. I would have told you sooner, but I wanted us to enjoy the time we had left. I’m sorry I broke my promise, Asia, I’m so sorry. I love you.
Alex.

The letter fell from her hands.

“He left,” Asia whispered savagely into the bathmat, tears disgracing her.
“He left me all alone. Just like everyone else. Everyone I’d ever cared about.”