Arden has two best friends that mean the world to her. The three of them were never in class together before this year but it feels like they've been friends their whole lives. They need each other in the way that only preadolescent girls can. Arden found out on Sunday that one of them (the one that Arden calls the brains of the group, the one that keeps them on track) is moving away to another state today. She wonders how they'll be able to stay focused without her. She wishes it didn't have to change. My girl's heart is breaking a little bit.
As expected, when her friend told her the news, Arden wanted to draw a picture—a picture of the three girls as their "Fursonas" (their own carefully created animal personas)—to give to her dear friend who has to move away.
Arden is the one on the right, the friend who is moving is in the middle.
I haven't told her it will all be okay (she knows that already). I don't tell her that she'll find another friend like her (I don't pretend that friendships like this are easily replaced). Instead, I wipe her tears and I tell her I get it. I tell her I understand. And inside my heart breaks for her a little bit.
