When I was 11 years old, I started a new life at a new school, and it was great, but I was scared because everything had changed. I still remember how I met my best friend. Nobody talked to me in the classroom because I was a new student, and everyone had a group. However, one person said “hello” and asked for my name, and that was how our friendship started. 

Every class was different for me because my friend, Angel, was always supporting me, and I didn’t feel bad because he was a special boy—cheerful, friendly, and honest. Sometimes, he called me to ask about the homework and help me with it as well. He was a good friend. I didn’t have any idea about computer science, but he did, and he taught me. My grade was excellent that year.

One day, my mom decided to transfer me to another high school because we were having an economic crisis, and the Liceo Cristiano, my school, was so expensive. On my last school day, Angel prepared a meeting with our classmates and advisers. How beautiful! I was excited. When everything finished, Angel gave me a gift: a diary. Angel wrote some words about my personality and our friendship; it was so wonderful! I wrote every night about my day and also wrote stories in my diary, but now I don’t have any more pages to write. I think I have finished it. If you see my diary, you can find photos of when I was a baby and photos of me with my family. I have a little poem in it as well. It is a book for me with a magic story.

Now, I don’t know anything about Angel, but I hope he is well and healthy. I am always reading my diary and remembering when I met my best friend. 

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Karla Rivas writes: “I was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. I immigrated to the United States in October 2018, when I was 18 years old, and have been living in Queens. This story is a beautiful memory of my childhood, about a good friend and classmate. When I received the diary, I discovered my passion for writing.” Karla Rivas studies with Jean Choi at The English Language Center (TELC) of CUNY’s LaGuardia Community College.