16 - A Non-fiction Narrative Essay

The Risk Worth Taking

Having a lot of friends is not my cup of coffee, nor is socializing with people. I was your resident introvert girl, the girl who was afraid of talking to people because people are difficult to understand and they seem scary. For me, getting attached to people is a risk I wouldn't take.  This has changed when I got to high school, the place where I started to understand what the quote “No man is an island” meant. Having friends, getting to know them and making memories with them is a risk worth taking.

Back to my high school days, during my freshman years, I never thought that helping my classmates in their assignment would make me win a friend. Her name is Vera. She was an inch taller than me and she has a fair white skin. When we sit side by side, I look like the coffee and she was the milk.  We became good friends. She made me listen to the music and songs she likes, which I also have taken a liking to. Unknowingly, as the months passed by, we became the best of friends.

On our second year, we've been placed in different sections. Different time schedules got in the way. Thus, we spent lunch times with a different set of friends. This experience was new, being away from Vera was pretty hard for me. I thought our friendship had sunk, but thanks to Facebook, we managed to keep in touch.

For the third year, distance didn't keep us away from being closer than we were. Nature tested this when Vera transferred to a different school. I told myself to be strong; because this was the time she needed me the most. I spared some time and spend the weekends at her house. Doing so, I got to know her well and our friendship has gotten stronger.

Our fourth year was the worst. It seemed that nature was bent on keeping us apart. On the 18th of July 2012, Vera’s family had to fly to Canada. I skipped school on that day, just so I can be with her till her last seconds in the Philippines. Nature was really against our friendship. I wasn't able to go with her to the airport. I missed that last chance to spend time with her. It was heartbreaking and nerve-wrecking. I cried the whole afternoon and the nights after.

Now, it’s not only distance but also different time zones are in between of our friendship. We send birthday gifts and holiday greetings over the internet, but there were times when finding time to chat is difficult. Despite this, it doesn't change the fact that she is my best friend and she will always be.

From this experience, I learned to trust people, and that having a friend like her is worth taking the risk for. Being attached to people is not that bad after all. Sure, I was hurt in the way but it’s just made me stronger than I was. It made me believe that ‘No man is an island’.