My head aches just with the feeling of leaving them. Forever. As the car pulls into the drive way of their house I kiss mum good bye and walk towards the door of my second home, my second families home. I take a deep breath and force a smile onto my face. Aunty Jolie, Leslie and Jessie's mother opens the door and welcomes me in with a warm smile and welcoming arms.
"How's my little girl? Haven't seen you such a long time!" She exclaims after I break the embrace, laying my bag down near the door.
"Ahh, I'm fine. Finals are finally over. And how's my favourite aunty?" I ask, smiling at her whilst she brushes invisible lint from my shoulders and looks me up and down. All of a sudden, I realise how weary and worn out she's become since the last time I saw her.
"Do you ever stop working aunty? You really need to take a break," I fret, holding her arms delicately like she's made of china.
"Yeah. Tell that to your two friends up there. You are my understanding little girl" she said comfortingly
"Speaking of those two musketeers of mine. Where are they?" I questioned, looking around the house.
"Them both sleepy heads, are up stairs fast asleep. They slept at 3:00 AM last night as usual."
Nodding from left to right in disappointment but smiling at their stupidity. I love them. As I climb up the stairs and look at the picture frames hanging on the wall of their family. After I'm upstairs I walk through the corridor and reach the end of it to open the door and find my two best friends mouths opened, eyes closed, half off the bed, sleeping. I smile at the sight before my eyes. God I'm gonna miss these idiots. I walk over to Leslie's bed and sit beside her, I scream right into her ears.
"LES GET THE HELL UP!"
She jolts up in shock. As soon as she realises I'm the one who awakes her. She takes her pillow and hits it on my face and slams back down on her bed to go back to sleep.
"Ashhhhh! I hate you forever! Let me sleep." She complained
"Haha. I love you too Les. Now get up!"
Moaning and groaning she forces her self out of bed. I walk over to Jessie and wake her up as well. After dressing up they come down the stairs and we have breakfast.
"Ash why did you come so earlyyyy" Leslie asked.
"Well .... Remember how we always wanted to have a sleepover?"
"Yeah!" She said looking hopeful
"Mum finally agreed and I'm gonna spend this whole day with you guys and tomorrow as well." I said
"Ooohhhh my God Ash! This is AMAZING!"
"I've been waiting for this moment for my WHOLE life!!!!"
She got up came over to my chair and hugged the hell out of me. Just this gesture reminds me of the bad news I have to give her.
After breakfast we run upstairs and talk on and on about the most random thing ever, watched a movie, played dark room hide and seek and then right after lunch I decided that I couldn't hold it in anymore. I asked both, Leslie and Jessie to sit on the bed with me.
"I have to let you guys know something..." I said trying to avoid eye contact
"We have been friends for 8 years now. You are my sisters from another mister." I said trying to make the conversation lighten up.
"I don't know how to say this in a long, prolonging way so I'm just gonna get straight to the point ..."
"My family has decided that, we are going to move to Australia .... forever ...."
After saying this I look up and notice them looking at me in disbelief.
"Ash is this some kind of sick prank or joke you are trying to play on us? If this is then you got us!" Leslie said.
"Les, this isn't a joke .... I'm serious. I'm leaving. Forever." I said tears forming in my eyes.
Leslie had tears falling down her face, she got up and left the room, running to the terrace. I looked over at Jessie. She was crying too, she came closer and gave me a tight hug. I hugged her back. This was too much.
"You better go after her ... you don't want her crying and wasting the day do you?" Jessie said between deep breaths.
I leave the room and rush out to the terrace where I find Leslie leaning over the edge, crying. Crying more than when she bruised her leg and had blood flowing. More than ever. I walk up to her slowly. Aunty Jolie, who was already aware of the news, signalled out to me from the glass door, asking if I was alright and had every thing in control. I signalled back, saying I had got this. I face Leslie and rest my hand on her back.
"Les, I'm so sorry. You know I found out after this was all final. I was so angry with my parents and I still am ..." I said sympathetically.
She turned to face me, brushed my hand off her back and embraced me in a hug.
"Les ..."
"Shut up Ash." She said crying.
"You can't leave me here. We are forever. You said that."
"Les, no matter what I'm not gonna leave you. Who said we won't be forever. I'll talk to you everyday. I'll come back someday .... I promise..." I said crying harder.
She hugged me tighter.
"I love you Ash." She said sobbing.
"You love me? In the love love way or friendly way?" I smiled, trying to lighten up the situation.
"Idiot." She said pushing me away. This time with a smile on her face.
The rest of the time that we had together, we laughed, cried, had fun and most importantly felt grateful that we were the 3 musketeers. No one could tear us apart. Leslie gave me a harmonica of hers that I had always loved. She said that it was to remind me of her, when I was feeling down. It's better to have this off my chest. Telling them was hard but it was necessary. I love them too much.
'A strong friendship doesn't need daily conversation, doesn't always need togetherness as long as the relationship lives in the heart, true friends will never part ...'
