The airport was loud and heavy with passenger traffic. The air was so stuffy, you could cut it with a knife, at least that is was it seemed like to me. I was so nervous yet so excited. I didn’t know what to feel. I couldn’t believe that I was going to see her again. It had been such a long time. You see, my best friend since, like forever, had left Florida with her family to live in California at the end of our sophomore year of high school.

I tried to squeeze my way through all the people, looking for a good spot so that she could see me. I didn’t know if she would even recognize me. I looked at my watch, 10:45, damn, 15 more minutes. I wish it would hurry up. I started thinking of some of our best times; like our blowout beach party, sleepovers… and out of the blue hearing my name being called.

“Natalie! Natalie!”

Coming out my thoughts, I saw my best friend Charlie coming towards me. I had to refocus and make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Nope, it was her. I ran over to her screaming and giving her the biggest hug, as tears were starting to fill my eyes.

“God, I missed you so much”

"Nah uh...I missed you more, it's so great to see you again"

“You look great… just like always…” wiping my tears

"So do you, in fact you're glowing. Is that Jason's doing? The guy I've heard so much about" wiping my own tear away

"Well, some of it... things are going good right now.. but that is not all of it.. I just can't believe you’re here!"

"I can't believe it either... I'm so psyched to be here. We've got a lot of belated celebrating to do"

"Oh ya, come on, let's go home."

"Sure"

All the way back home, we laughed and joked just like old times... not realizing what would surface later.....