tri·ad noun: a group or set of three connected people or things.

Part I: Beginnings

Ellie

We were six years old

A day forgotten

But a moment remembered

The first time I saw you and

You saw me

And as we looked with pure, innocent blue eyes

Into each other’s

And without a word

We knew we would be friends

Rose

Beginning of sixth grade

Now a memory growing dim

Held by the roots of friendship

I walked through the classroom

And saw you sitting there

We shared a look, your eyes light and mine a deepening blue

Colors of new sprouts and bright mornings

And by the time homeroom had ended

A friendship was planted and began to bloom

Malachi

Seventh grade

Like a song on repeat

The memories play in my mind

It was sometime in that first week, just another workday

The day our soft humming rose above the buzz of conversation

And as we looked, your blue eyes light and mine a bit darker

I knew the beginning of this duet made of smiles and laughter

Made of math problems nobody really understood

Could be the start of a friendship

Part II: Memories

Ellie

These moments meld into a haze

Of laughter and play

Of criss-cross girls on big fluffy pillows

Talking about pointless things and life (and sometimes boys)

Memories of playground games

Memories of “let’s pretend” and never wanting change

Yet growing up instead

Memories of who we were

When we were together

Rose

Moments like these come in the days I look back

Way back in my email and find

Your messages, and as tears well in my eyes I watch us talk

Of dreams and plans and hopes, thinking of these

Memories of a blossoming friendship

Memories of homework strewn across desks, muted giggles

And off-task conversations

Memories of everything we did

When you were by my side

Malachi

Flashing back to every moment

Everywhere I look there’s reminders of

These times we had, first hour, every day

Spent with cheesy jokes and songs and homework

Memories of spontaneous duets no one else knew the words to

Memories of laughter over the things you said

That made no sense but were funny anyway

Memories of every hour I could look forward to

When you were there to spend them with me

Part III: Endings

Ellie

When you told me

With tears in your eyes

That you might have to go

I knew you’d leave

That there wasn’t a chance

But still I hoped

Yet two months later, you left anyway

But not without all the hugs I could give you

And both of us knowing we’d see each other again

Rose

You had hinted before

That you might have to go

That it could be your last day

I almost didn’t believe it, and moved on, oblivious

Until you left and I was alone

Yet, two weeks later, you came back and I

Thought I’d have you for longer

Until you didn’t come one day

And I never saw you again

Malachi

I knew the day was coming

When you’d have to go

But all I had was a handwritten note

Snug against my pocket, waiting until the end of the day

When I mustered the courage to hand it to you

“You’re a great friend,” you said but there were

Other people’s eyes on the back of my head

So I simply said, “you are too”, smiled a bit

Then walked away

Ellie

There is hope in the times ahead

I believe that we’re still friends

So I hope I’ll see you soon,

Rose

There is hope in your reply

I believe that I can learn to finally let go

Always your friend,

Malachi

There is hope I might see you again

I believe that you were my friend

I miss you already,

The girl who remembers