Salt & Pepper

 That Christmas was the best Christmas I can remember. That was when I met my best friend. Her long blonde hair, baby blue eyes and precious little voice. She never left my side. Sophie didn't leave me...Instead, I was the one to abandon her. I grew distant from her, and after 10 years of an amazing friendship, I left. I left my safe haven of sweet dreams and play dates, and entered into the dark holes and wicked spells of twisted teens. I no longer cared to see, or speak to Sophie, and I didn't want her to follow me, even when my mom assured me it was too early to let her go. Some days I utterly and totally missed my friendship with her. But I couldn't go back. I couldn't drag her with me to sleepovers anymore, or go shopping for clothes, but believe me when I say I felt a great longing to reach out to her. I wanted to push everyone and everything away just so I could rekindle my friendship; my sisterhood with her. But that was it. All those days of pumpkin patch adventures, and trips to Krispy Kreme were vanished into thin air and I couldn't get them back. Every now and then I get a glimpse of her dry, short blonde hair merely separated into pigtails, wrapped in her favorite Christmas sweater, and it instantly brings me back to the good old days of Nicho and Sophie. I wish I could tell her why I left, and I pray she'd understand. But for now I'll have to leave it to the occasional spring cleaning to see her. If I had never received that perfect doll when I was four years old, I wouldn't be the person I am today. So, thank you, Sophie. Thank you for holding on even when I wanted to let go.