Prologue
Eight years. That was how long it had been since we saw each other. Not so long ago, we used to talk a lot. Even if he left the country, he made sure that we’re able to contact each other. Having different time zones made it difficult for us to talk. Regardless of that, he still made sure that he was able to make me feel his presence around. Things were okay, or so I hope it would have been. Two years after he left, and suddenly the emails stopped. I knew this would happen sooner or later, but it took at least two years of our long distance friendship to last. It was hard. I was the kind of person, who prefers old friends than new ones. Time passed by, and every day was going to be different. As much as I hate to say it, he was just going to be another part of my life, the one who came and left. He sure stayed for a long time, and it saddens me to know he was not going to stay for the long run.
Things have changed a lot since then—I met new people, went to different places and experienced life—after he officially became a part of my past. I have been quite happy with everything, but Jake’s memory still continued to linger at the back of my mind.
He was right about one thing. His name engraved in the tag. It served as a solid reminder. I made sure to cherish our memories, and kept a piece of him close. Even if he was somewhere far away, I still hoped that he kept his necklace as well. His promise was one of the reasons why I never wanted to forget him. My mom once told me that promises were the most precious thing any person is willing to grant. I was young. Our bond was so strong, and his promise was the one thing I wanted to keep for a long time. Growing up without him was not easy. It made me realize that he probably did not plan on keeping it anymore.
I sighed, letting the wave of nostalgia creep over my restless thoughts. As much as I thought of giving up his memory, something in me still wanted to keep it. His memory matters, He matters to me. I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep as I held on tight to the tag that bear his name and memory.
