“What do you want me to do?”
She asked this tentatively, nervously tugging at a middle button on her shirt.
“How does this work? How do we start?”
We had been dancing around this moment verbally and mentally for the better part of a month, but now it was here. We were standing in front of each other, maybe for the last time as best friends, and the moment was thick with an undefinable emotional weight.
“I think first, we should have a hug.” I responded. “I think I need one.”
She stepped into me and held me tightly at my waist as I put my arms around her shoulders and held her to me. “I do, too.” She said and squeezed me. “Can you promise me you’ll still be my BFF after this?” She asked into the room as she held her head against my shoulder.
There were so many things circling that question that I reduced it as simply as I could. “Yes. I promise I will still love you as my friend. And I promise I don’t want to lose my BFF.” And we held each other tighter again, standing for minutes in silence, quietly swaying with each other.