𝙵𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚈𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝙰𝚐𝚘

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I hand him the spoon and watch as he carves our initials on the bottom of the tree in the playground.

R+O.

That's what it says. Ryane and Oliver. We're thirteen years old, and he's leaving for Nevada soon. His father has accepted a job offer there and the whole family has to go. I don't know for how long, I just know it'll be long enough.

"Best friends forever?" He asked me.

I look down at him. We both had mud all over us and our hair is messy and wet. My once blue denim shorts are now stained brown.

I reach out my pinky finger for him to swear.

"Forever and ever." I responded.

Now we're seventeen and sitting in that same park we did four years ago. Once again, he's leaving. Not for Nevada temporarily, but for Oklahoma permanently.

We're sitting on the swings, swaying faintly. Not one of us talking, just enjoying each other's company. 

That's when Oliver breaks the silence.

"I wish it wasn't permanent."

I wait for him to continue but he never does.

"We'll continue to be friends right?" I ask. "I mean, it's not like I'd forget about you. You won't me, right?"

He stares at his shoes for a little before looking up at me, his face sad.

"I just...don't want us to drift apart. All my other friends did and...and-"

"Oliver," I interrupt.

He stops talking, his lip just shaking. The sky surrounding us is dark blue and light pink. They're mixing and making purple. The sun is setting behind the trees to where I can't see it anymore.

"We've known each other for what? Ten years? Yeah, and we have never drifted apart." I told him.

"Remember the promise we made on that tree?"

He looks confused for a second before it all comes back to him. 

"Yeah."He responds.

I get up from my swing and grab his hand, pulling him easily.

"Ryane, whe-"

"Shh!" I say. "Just come on."

We walk into the trees then stop when we get to the tree we made our promise at.

"Remember this?" I ask.

"Oh...yeah. Yeah I do." He says.

Oliver is a little cry baby, but that's why I'm his friend. Otherwise, he'd be like a lost puppy wandering where he isn't supposed to.

I bend down and move the bushes covering our initials.

R+O.

I then asked him the same question he asked me four years ago.

"Best friends forever?"

He looks up from the tree bottom and it seems like his sulking session is over, because he gives me a smile and reaches out his pinky finger. Just like I did four years ago.

"Forever and ever." He responds.

Then, he stands up and wraps his arms around me, burying his face in the book of my neck.

I feel his tears running down and onto the back of my shirt, but I don't care. Why would I? He's my best friend.

"Forever and ever." I repeat.

Today's the day I watch him leave.

He is by the plane door waiting for his parents. I am standing next to mine, waving him goodbye.

Then, he puts his suitcase down and hurries towards me, trapping me in a big hug.

"I'll miss you Ryane." He says.

I hugged him back.

"I'll miss you more."

He lifts his head and smiles.

"I'll miss you more, I win."

I smile back at him and hug him again before he leaves.

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