For Good

My best friend has graduated.
When she first told me that she would be graduating early, I don't think that I knew how much it would affect me later.
It hit me tonight.
Sierra graduating isn't the only thing going on in my life right now, but it seems to be kinda predominent at the moment.
I sat in that church building for the commencement ceremony tonight. I thought I was gonna be fine.
I wasn't.
We sang our "National Anthem." I had a flashback.

FLASHBACK:

I am standing in the middle of a basketball court. Two teams have already been introduced. The timer is set to go. Someone hums a note. I open my mouth. Voices harmonize. "Oh-oh, say can you see. . . ." It's me. And my best friend. Our first time singing like this. And I remember.

I got through the "rocket's red glare." And I lost it.
I started crying. A lot.
Good thing Jon was there, or I don't think I would have made it, to be honest.
I managed to maintain control until the man on the podium called out Sierra's name. She walked forward to get her diploma. She graduated. And I cried.
I was fine again. . .until tonight.
Then it hit me.
My best friend was gone. Graduated.
No more swapping papers.
No more late Monday night phonecalls to make sure that everything was edited.
No more her yelling at me to "CONDENSE YOUR VERBAGE!"
No more concuring during Mytho.
No more groaning over Chem problems.
No more school plays.
No more 15 minute lunch breaks.
No more high school memories for the two of us.
Now there's just me. Me. Two very lonely letters.

Okay, so I'm being overdramatic. But no one really understands me like Sierra does.
She gets my total INSANITY!
She gets how every little plot twist makes a difference. It's CRUCIAL, you know?
Inspiration excites her too, not just me!
She stays up until 2am thinking of a character name that does not start with the letter "A."
She's my best friend.
She's Sierra.
100% non-romantic. And yet, she puts up with me. For the most part. =]

I guess all I can say is: thanks.
It's not over yet. Well, sorta!
Sleepovers. Movies. Laughing.
Grits and eggs. Wheech sheep?
The root of "coo."
Snoring squirrels.
Mr. Darcy.
Godspell.
Hi-ho, Robin Hood.
Fluency of Espanol percentages.
Thanks Sierra.
Thanks for being my best friend.
Thanks for being there for me.
Thanks for just being you.
Thanks.
100 times over.
Oh yeah. And DON'T SMASH THE VIOLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
=]]]]]
I concur.

Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes the sun.
Like a steam that meets a boulder halfway through the woods.
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.
It well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime.
So, let me say before we part,
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you.
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart.
And now whatever way our stories end,
I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend.
~For Good, Wicked