As I stepped into my bedroom, which would be the one I would stay in for the next two years, I had a little panic attack. Yes, I was a brand new student and had barely made any friends. I glanced at the door and looked at the names of my roommates who were complete strangers at that time: Fayza, Nina, Prakruti, Ji Sung, and Jin Young. I looked inside the room and found that I was the last one to arrive: all the beds except for one were made and the cupboards filled with clothes. None of my roommates were there at that moment. I smiled at the thought of having to sleep on a bunk bed as that too was new to me.
My parents and sister followed me close behind and we started unpacking my stuff. I set up my bed, put my clothes in the cupboard, and arranged my drawer. Before I could have my fill of chatting with my family, for I wouldn't be seeing them for the next five months, it was time to go. We walked to Ridge Wood field together, enjoying the last of the moments we had together before I was to leave them for, what seemed to me like, a long, long time. As they drove away in the small, white car, tears swelled up in my eyes and I quickly brushed them away. I stood there for some time, as the eleven-year-old inside me hoped to see the white car emerge from around the corner again. I realized that it wasn't going to happen, so I turned around and made my way back to Alter Ridge, and then to my room.
As I entered, I noticed that someone else was there. It was a small, Indian girl with short, curly hair. She was wearing a tiny-framed pair of glasses, and I remember thinking how very small her face was. She was sitting on the chair, calm and relaxed, next to a cupboard where her mother, I assumed, and big sister were unpacking the last bit of her clothes for her. As they saw me, they politely greeted me as did I. We introduced ourselves to each other. As I sat there, getting to know the girl and and her family, I felt happy. I was happy that I had finally started making friends.
Her mother and sister went out for a while while the girl and I continued to chat. She was jumpy and hyper and had lots of energy. She went on and on about herself, her sister, and her family. As we were talking, I saw an album on her table and asked her if I could take a look. I flipped through the album and saw many baby pictures of two little girls with one older-looking one. She told me that the big one was her elder sister and the little on was her twin sister. I remember thinking how cool it was that they didn't look similar at all. Then, she offered me some chocolate. Even today, we argue whether it was a KitKat she offered me or if it was Bar One.
Then, for the next five years, we became really close friends. We lived through middle school together and made some of the most unforgettable memories. When I look at her now, I still see the little, Indian girl who was the first friend I made when I was new, scared, and friendless.
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