A best friend: someone you trust with everything and then some. Someone you know you can be your complete self around and know there is no judgment. Someone you know you can call to talk about absolutely nothing or the most important things in your life. Someone who makes you laugh when you don’t even want to smile. Someone who knows everything about you; however, she love you the same. Someone who will tell you the things you absolutely need to hear regardless if you want to hear them or not. Best friends are an interesting concept if you really think about it. You find someone one day, decide you really like her, and from then on, you’re inseparable. We most all have at least one best friend throughout our lives. From the way I see it, everyone is brought into our lives for a reason. Nothing in life is accidental. Your best friend is a key influence in your life and sometimes teaches you lessons you didn’t think were needed. My best friend taught me a significant lesson I’ll never forget. It has been something that has changed my life forever.

On Monday December 19, 2011, a 1966 model Piper Saratoga plane crashed in eastern Texas and the family on board was killed on impact. One of the family members killed happened to be my best friend, Brooke. The plane crash happened late at night; therefore, I was told the news the next morning. “Brittany, I need you to sit down. We need to talk.” I will never forget those terrifying words said by my mom. I immediately began to imagine all the bad news that could be coming with the next few words that were going to be said. However, out of all the possibilities that ran through my mind, not once did the news actually delivered cross my mind. “Brookie was killed last night in a plane crash.” All that came out of my mouth was a distressed scream. It couldn’t be true; she couldn’t be gone. Everything around me seemed to be moving in slow motion, but I was left feeling numb
Brooke could light up a room with just her smile. She was always giggling about something, and when anyone heard her laugh, a smile was instantly painted on their face. She never seemed to be in a negative mood and she always tried to bring happiness to someone’s day. She was a trustworthy person, no matter who you asked. Brooke knew all my fears, all my mistakes, my plans for the future, my favorite things in life, my boy crush of the moment, my pants size, should I continue? Brooke knew everything about me and I was completely okay with that; she was my best friend. She always had an open ear and a shoulder to cry on if needed. She could look at my face and tell when her personal counseling office doors needed to be opened for me. It was never a dull moment together. We always had fun no matter what. She is who I learned to slow dance with late at night in her mom’s garage. She is who I shared my middle school Justin Bieber obsession with. She is who I attended Justin Bieber concerts with and fangirled over him to the extreme. She is who I jumped on the trampoline and played on the swing set with in the pouring down rain, without a single care that our clothes were getting soaked and we would probably be sick the next day. She is who I spent countless nights hiding in neighbor’s garages while playing midnight hide and go seek outside with the whole neighborhood. She is who I have made so many unforgettable memories with.

Brooke was such a special person throughout my life. I’ll never forget two quotes she always said described our friendship. We used to tell people we were sisters; most the time, people believed it. We acted just alike and so I believe it is true when she used to tell me, “A true friend is one soul in two bodies.” – Aristotle. She also used to always tell me, “When it hurts to look back, and you’re scared to look ahead, you can always look beside you and your best friend will be there.” Everyone’s definition for a “best friend” varies, but Brooke was exactly what my definition of one is.

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish for my best friend back. There are days that I reminisce on our memories, and I’m filled with joy; however, there are days filled with hurt and the feeling of brokenness. I believe everyone is brought into our lives for a reason, and Brooke was no exception for me. While I hate what happened that one December, I am thankful for having the opportunity to have had someone so amazing in my life and I am thankful for the lesson I have taken away from all of this. Cherish life. Cherish the big things, the small things, the bad things, the good things, cherish everything about life. Life is too short and you never know when your last day will be.