Anna N., Oakwood High School
Friendship Fuels Purpose
It was May 24, 2018, and I was lying down in the hospital hall on a cold, hard couch. My scratchy blanket and a flat pillow smelled of hand sanitizer. I’d been trapped in a hospital for days as the cancer persisted, and my dad’s health faded. As I lay there, hearing constant beeping and coughing, memories floated through my mind.
We were in the car on the way to practice, the light pinks and bright oranges flooded the sky, and we listened to the question of the day on the radio. I sat across from him at Panera with the smell of freshly baked bread and steaming broccoli-cheddar soup in front of me. I heard his powerful, booming voice soften into love and tenderness when he talked to me. One specific memory, though, stood out as I rolled over on the couch.
It was elementary, and my friend group was changing, and I felt alone. He took me to a crowded store to help me get away from friend issues. His authoritative personality changed to tenderness as he let me wander and pick out snacks.
Now, I was with him in the hospital, and I felt even more alone. I wanted to talk to someone my age, but I didn’t have anyone. I felt no confidence. As I heard my dad cough, tears stained my red checks because I was losing the person who made me feel like I belonged. I had given up, had even become depressed. My dad was still present, but he was so sick and in so much pain.
But even though I felt alone, I wasn’t. That night, a girl called me unexpectedly. Her name is Emma. She asked me if I wanted to hang out sometime. I responded with a happy, excited, “Yes!” despite my current circumstances. As nurses rushed from room to room, I finally felt wanted. It was a blessing to have a friend to talk to about my emotions. Although I was saying goodbye to my father, I had friends by my side to help me through.
At this point, I decided to make a plan for my life. I would be an “Emma” for others. I would become a very welcoming and reliable friend to everyone...because you never know what others are going through. I have met other people who have gone through very tough times, and helping them helps me gain confidence. Being selfless builds self-confidence. I also learned never give up on yourself.
Laying there on the hospital couch, I would have never guessed things would get better. I could not have anticipated that my new friends would guide me through one of the biggest losses a human can endure. If I had known, I could have comforted myself as I drifted to sleep under the scratchy hospital blanket.
