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        Sadie grumpily trudged through her school’s hallways to her locker during recess. She had been upset and frustrated this whole week after hearing her mom tell her that they would be moving to a different state at the end of the school year. This was an abrupt transition and Sadie felt like she had just settled down and made new friends. Now, however, she had no choice but to leave, and as the date of her departure came closer and closer, Sadie grew increasingly anxious and unhappy. While she understood the struggles her parents were facing to make enough income, Sadie also thought it was unfair that she was always the “new kid” in the neighborhood. 

          Rebecca, one of Sadie’s closest friends, had noticed a shift in Sadie’s energy.

While Rebecca wanted Sadie to tell her what was going on, she also did not want to impose or pry at Sadie for information. As Rebecca approached Sadie in the hallways, she asked Sadie, “Are you okay? I am always here if you want to talk.” 

       Sadie, who felt frustrated and as if she would soon be losing her friendship with Rebecca, lashed out at her. “That’s the problem,” Sadie muttered, “you won’t be there. Just leave me alone, this doesn’t concern you.” 

          Rebecca physically withdrew, feeling hurt and confused at Sadie’s sudden out-

burst. She sensed that Sadie was going through something, but reasoned that there was no way for her to help if Sadie pushed her away. “I’m sorry, Sadie, did I do something?”  

      Sadie sighed. “No, you didn’t. Sorry,” she whispered, before leaving Rebecca standing in the hallway.

          For the next few days, Rebecca made a point to avoid Sadie, wanting to avoid any confrontation. As the days went on and Sadie did not approach Rebecca, Rebecca found herself feeling disappointment bubble up within her.

         Why isn’t Sadie apologizing to me? Clearly, she should, Rebecca thought to herself. Although they passed each other in the hallways, an air of awkwardness lingering between the two, and neither Sadie nor Rebecca made any effort to reach out to the other. Eventually, days dragged into months, and the school year was nearing an end.

         Rather than waste her time waiting for Sadie to apologize–or at the very least, give an explanation for what had sparked her hurtful words–Rebecca found herself creating new connections between her and some other classmates. New friendships began to bud between Rebecca and a few others, which Sadie observed wistfully from the corner. While seeing Rebecca move on made her a little melancholy, Sadie knew it was for the best. In a few months, she would be moving, and she did not want Rebecca to feel lonely. Believing that there was no point in rekindling a connection when she would be moving shortly anyways, Sadie felt that she deserved losing her Rebecca’s friendship. Sadie ended the school year walking through the hallways alone.

        With each passing day, the two once close friends moved slowly down different paths. Rebecca seemed to be having fun with her new friends, and Sadie prepared to move to a new home. Sadie accepted that Rebecca had moved on, but began to look forward to moving. Rebecca wished Sadie well, yet realized Sadie was not the right friend for her. Drifting further apart from each other, they went their separate ways until they became strangers who used to be friends.