# data[].attributes.body
The first time I met my friend (who has chosen to stay anonymous and use They/Them) was for a 6th grade school field trip. The day was warm since it was only the 2nd week of school and the temperature hadn't changed, at the time I had long hair, so my hair had been tied up and frizzy because of the temperatures. We were in groups for a hiking trip that we went on around Lake Mohegan. I had gotten to sit next to them on the bus because of us being group mates.

When we got to Lake Mohegan we got into our groups, my group was a group of 2 boys and then me and the person who I would soon become friends with. I was wearing a pair of sweatpants, hoodies, and a pair of old shoes that I had. Perfect for hiking and wandering around for 2 hours on a sandy lake front area. As soon as we got into the groups, me and my friend instantly started talking about music and those types of things since we were both in band class together, and we found interest in the same music. I played flute and like 70’s-90’s rock, and they played trombone and had the same music taste. It was like we were soulmates, meant to find each other and become friends. As we walked around, we had to talk about different things we saw with our group mates…except ours had run away and went to join up with their friends.
As the day concluded we both had gained a new friendship, each other. We cared about each other and didn't judge each other on our differences or the issues that we had. We had a friendship that would soon become inseparable.

While thinking back on these moments it's saddening. I'll never get to experience another friendship like this, the first time we were meeting was the first time I was calm and relaxed and not scared about the upcoming years of school ahead of me, I knew That I'd have someone that would be there for me if I needed them.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Lincoln Park, Jackman Avenue, Fairfield, CT

# data[].attributes.body
It was a crisp fall morning, the green leaves turned yellow, orange, and red

The air was smelling of apples…almost as if the air was crisp. The park was almost always covered in fresh air dew from the morning. My friend and I were finally meeting up after not seeing each other due to school. They did face-to-face while I was digitally learning. We were at Lincoln Park, Fairfield, CT. I wasn't allowed over to their house, since their mom didn't even know I existed. She just thought that they were going for walks during the day. I’d get driven and dropped off, and they'd ride their skateboard or their bike down to the park. My friend and I would walk more than 4 miles almost every day to go from Lincoln Park to the Circle K near where party city was, we’d bring money, and we’d get slushies if it were warm out. We’d get energy drinks and snacks like Slim Jim or a Blue raspberry slushy, the good kind. The kind that feels carbonated when you drink it, then cools you down right after swallowing. The kind that you can feel going down into your stomach and instantly cooling you down from the inside out after standing in the boiling heat. It was our favorite type of slushy to drink whenever we were with each other.

It's either that or we would go to Starbucks since it was just a little ways away, and we would get refreshers and cake pops. Specifically, the type of refresher that has the dragon fruit and mango flavoring in it without the dragon fruit chips. Those would make us sick because of the texture it had after being dehydrated in a Starbucks bag for probably over a month.

Times like these with my friend always made me smile. We would walk and make jokes about everything we did. We would Laugh, cry and have sentimental moments that would change our lives like the butterfly effect. We would make the most of everything because this is when we could be alone with just each other and nature as we walked. It was so peaceful, and I cherish the memories that we had made. Especially when we would walk and the sprinklers would be on at people's houses, and we’d run through them if they were near the sidewalk.

Though one-day things changed, and they didn't show up. I was left alone at the park with no one there but me, my headphones, and my almost dead phone trying to figure out where they were. I was sitting there thinking about what we could've done if they did show up, cherishing those small moments that we had in previous walks and playing them in my head, hoping for my friend to come and walk with me. Later that day I found out they got grounded, and we couldn't walk together for almost a month. It was hard since that was our escape from everything happening in the world and I knew that I would be just sitting in my room for multiple hours a day without leaving it. Without having any interaction with other people other than family and people over text. Though even then I couldn't text them since they got their devices taken away. It was a significant change, and I was quite scared since I didn't know if they were okay or not the entire time.

# data[].attributes.body
It was the middle of the summer. The weather was hot, in the 90’s, humidity high.  There was no breeze, just us sitting on their lawn looking at the clouds passing by as this was the final day that we would be hanging out together.

“I wonder what life will be like in Virginia... Will I have friends like you?” They murmured under their breath while looking over at me with tears welling up in their eyes.

“I’m sure you will…plus we can always stay in contact with each other!” I smiled as I looked at them.

The sad moment lasted for hours though it only felt like seconds. In mere moments the time has passed, the sky darkening and stars coming out. The moon shining down brightly at us and the winds pick up and make the tree leaves rustle in the sky. The night had started, the air now chilling forming goosebumps on our arms. As we spent our final moments together we went inside their house.
As we walked up to their room, which would be the final time I'd ever see it, tears formed in our eyes. I had started helping them pack a few nights ago, but now it was hitting me all at once. The last time I'd be spending time with them. I help them place their items into boxes, handing them things that spark memories. We share laugh and tears together, the tears burn my cheek leaving red marks where they had fallen.

Together we walk downstairs as I say goodbye to their family, theri pets that I had shared some weird memories with and them. Though this wasn't a final farewell for us. We’d see eachother again one last the next day, the final farewell will be spent as they get into their car and drive away.

Todays the day. I go to their house already tearing up as my lip quivers. The days are drizzly, the air cool and the air is moving at a fast pace. I slowly got out of my grandmother's car, walking over to them while holding a farewell gift, a hoodie and pin I had bought so they would have in their memories. We gave each other one final hug, I gave them the gifts as we cried. This will be the last time I see them for multiple years. They thanked me for the gifts and put the hoodie on that I gave them, extremely happy about it, though it was hard to tell because of all the tears and snot on our faces.

Over the next few months we kept in contact with each other, Until one day they randomly blocked me for no reason. We haven't talked since. Somedays I think back on our friendship and wonder where it went wrong, we were attached hip and hip always together so what changed? What happened between me and them ended our friendship. Though it may seem sad but I occasionally look through our old messages to relive the old memories that we had once shared with one another, I miss these times. Those were the times where I was happiest and living my best life. I was grateful for the times we spent together before the day that they blocked me, thinking about it even now makes me tear up thinking about how happy we were.