Term 1,
Handed in:
Week 9 - 27/03/2023,
Period 3
English: Creativee rriting
“One Last time”
rritten By: Neha Jaiju
Friendship. A cure for loneliness, a journey of mutual understanding through the lows and
ups. I fell into a trap of the deadliest feelings that exist in the world today while the cold
winter breeze blew mid-winter. Yet, a familiar feeling that takes me to reflect on my journey
through life.
It was August, a time piled up with the busyness of year 9 assessments. That was when I felt
a spark meet my feelings. I often think of my past a lot, they never leave me. But that one
time, I remembered her. A friend. No, a best friend. Someone unexpected whom I never seem
to have expected to be prepared for then became someone who I cherished to have through
school. I paused that thought while continuing to do my homework. Those thoughts didn’t
leave, except, my bottled-up memories wanted to be released while I was stuck on my math–
solving. I got stricken by my past self. Then got distracted by getting flashbacks of the
friendships I had in the past. Obviously, I thought of one of the best memories.
I remembered that day. The last few hours til’ everything had occurred began to vanish and
were part of the past.
It was that day, mid – December, prior to Christmas. I slouched into my bed, exhausted from
fast–paced walks to organise and prepare. Showing gratitude is a pleasing feeling I’ve felt but
sometimes also the worst feeling to break me apart. I cooled my dopamine neurons briefly as
I chugged a crumpet into my mouth. I craved some umami taste out of the blue. I was
browsing with my mother’s phone when I heard it. The creaky, electric sound leans closer
from the far end of the driveway approaching closer to my home. My instincts were right.
She was finally here.
I recalled that second when I ran out of my room racing towards the front door. I was packed
with bursts of energy. The moment I saw Sophia accompanied by her little brother, Mateo, I
was halfway squealing and holding hands with her while jumping together. Joy was written
all over our faces.
Her first impression began concentrating to house décor. “Woah, your house is big, wow,
there are so many lights. Oh my, the living room is packed with gorgeous decorations.” I
nodded, implying that I agreed with her. “Thanks, Dad,” I sneaked words into my thoughts
“Hello, welcome, have a seat” my mom addressed Venice, her mother, as she pulled a chair
for Venice and started to converse while we escaped. We spent some time, drinking orange
juice to cool down our emotions. Would you like some more? My mom asked while peaking
at our room. Mateo said, “I’m good, Thank You.” Not before long, Sophia’s mother left
letting her kids know. “Bye, see you later.”
With a flick of seconds later, my other friend arrived with his brother, Rafel. Perfect timing.
More feelings of jovial passed by me. Sophia was glad to see them too. “Hi, Neha.” First
words. I replied passionately “Hi Abel.”
I paused as I searched for his identity. Abel was my guy friend that I had, someone who
accompanied me during lunchtimes and gradually became my guy best friend from year 4.
Having my two dearest friends at the same time at my house, was my strong gratitude at that
moment. I was aware that it would be the first and the last time I would ever get to see them
at my house to hang out. Despair, that reality, I simply continued.
We all agreed to play hide and seek, the common game that instantly brings me back to
childhood played with a lot of people. “28, 29 and 30 echoing from the hallway. Ready or
not, here I come.” Just like that, I searched for people everywhere and I was not surprised that
I found them in obvious hiding places. “Found you.” “Ugh, you found me.” Mateo shrugged.
Not without anyone knowing mischievous me decided to stay hidden in my wardrobe, as I
scurried away into my room without being caught in anyone’s sight. Soon enough, everyone
was short of breath while fast pacing like a thief raiding the house. I finally decided to come
out. Sophia and the others could only ask the exact question, Where were you? Instead of
responding, all I did was laugh and made the others do the same as if I turned myself into a
“laughing gas.”
Soon enough, dinner was served, and we were all famished after multiple rounds of hide and
seek and with the excess laughing. “Yum” was the only word that came to our mind when we
gobbled. The chicken biriyani was flavourful and mouth-watering that made us finish a whole
plate. We slouched against the couch after consuming dinner.
Individually, our emotions began to fade dull, our bodies began to feel drained with half–
open eyes. The last moment I recalled. Leisurely, my mind shifted to reality. I came to realise
the value and depth that night holds. However, my turn to release that misery had to be 2
years later. I couldn’t remember anything more. By that time already, a waterfall had begun to
start wetting my cheeks.
“Life is unpredictable” – one of my mother’s teachings. How I ended my year 7, the year till’
“real” friendships existed for me.
“One last time”
Word count: 899