The Box of Memories

It is a rainy Sunday afternoon in summer. I am sitting on the sofa at the glass windows in my bedroom, listening to the rhythm of rain and breathing deeply the fresh air after a long time of hot and dry weather. In fact, because of the busy pace in the modern life, I have lost my interest in looking the rain, which used to be my favorite hobby, years ago. As I am enjoying the sound of falling rain, which seems to be a nice song pleasing to the ears, my phone suddenly begins to ring and interrupts my pleasant feeling. I pick it up and hear a warm voice “ What are you doing? Taking an afternoon nap, right? You should not sleep so much.”. It is a call from my guy best friend who always cares about me like a big brother.
After receiving the call, I hurry down the steps to the front door where he is waiting in the wet clothes and shaking because of cold. He used his raincoat to cover his backpack instead of wearing it, so he got totally soaked on the way to my house. I ask him, “ Why didn’t you wear the raincoat?” but he keeps silent. I give him my brother’s clothes and a bath towel to help him quickly dry and warm. He looks at me with a warm smile. His smile is really beautiful and I have never told him that.
After putting dry clothes on, he sits beside me and we start talking about the good time we have had together. I have wondered that where my memories had gone, but now at that moment, they are being back again just like before. He remembers everything about our time. When I am surprised by his memory, suddenly he gives me a beautiful box that is wrapped colorful paper round. He calls it “ The box of memories” and because of its important meaning, he used his only raincoat to prevent it from being wet. He says, “This box is very special to me because it contains the memories that I want to keep forever. However, now I have to say goodbye to it because it belongs to you, it is also a part of your memories”. Actually, I do not understand his meaning, but I am so happy to receive his gift. It also stops raining outside and he has to go home. Before leaving, he recommends me to not open his box until tomorrow.
It’s 11 am on Monday and I am waiting for my flight at airport. Today I will immigrate to USA and start a new page in my story life. Therefore, all of my friends come to the airport to say goodbye to me, but he, my best friend, is not there. It is really strange. It has never happened before. He is my best friend who is always here for me, shares my happiness and sadness and cheers me up when I am upset. I can’t believe that he is not there today, so I am looking around and waiting for his call. I am counting up a minute but nothing happens. There are many people walking around the terminal, but for me the airport is so quiet today. Suddenly, I receive a message “ I am so sorry. I came to the airport and I saw you but I cannot meet you face to face. Please open the box I gave you yesterday. Have a good flight, my little girl”.
After receiving the message, I open my hand luggage and take his box out. When the box is opened, I see a lot of colorful pieces of paper inside it and a lot of lucky stars. On the papers, I see his nice handwriting with the details of our friendship’s story. Especially, in the corner of the box, I see a pink heart shape paper and my tears are rolling down on my face when reading it. “Hey, you asked me “ Have you ever fall in love someone?” and I said, “No”. Now I am sorry that I lay you because I have been falling in love a girl for seven years. Do you know that you’re always on my mind? I love you so much. I got a scholarship and tonight I will fly to Japan and start a new life too. Hope to see you one day and take care yourself.”
Right now, I am choked by tears because I can’t believe that my best friend has loved me for a long time although I have a boyfriend. I recognize that every time when we spent time together regardless of funny or sad moments, he always wrote down in these pieces of papers and kept them in this box. That’s why he called it “ The box of memories”. I want to call him but my flight is ready for boarding, so I have to go. On the aircraft, looking out through the windows, it rains slightly like yesterday. I am falling asleep, and all our friendship memories came back to me in my dream amazingly. I talk to myself, “ Thanks for yesterday’s memories, my best friend, a boy in the rain. Thanks for everything you did for me.“