“Two souls, one breath”

People often say that friends are the family we choose for ourselves. I never truly understood the depth of those words until I found myself far away from home at the age of thirteen.

The story goes back to my days in grades 8, 9, and 10, when I lived in a hostel away from my parents. It was one of the most challenging phases of my life. I was fighting two battles at once. The first was navigating the confusing path of early adolescence, a time when emotions change faster than we can understand them. The second was learning how to adjust to an entirely new environment. Being responsible for every little thing waking up on time, managing studies, handling emotions, and taking care of daily tasks was not easy for a thirteen year old girl.

The hostel was full of unfamiliar faces, unfamiliar routines, and unfamiliar expectations. Some nights felt longer than others. Some days felt heavier than they should have. In those moments, I often missed the comfort of home and the reassurance of my parents.

Then came a day that changed everything. I still remember our first meeting. We were sitting in a room filled with strangers. The atmosphere was quiet, almost tense. Both of us seemed nervous and hesitant. There was a fear of being judged, a fear of saying the wrong thing, and uncertainty about what the other person might think. Yet, beneath all that nervousness, there was a small hope the hope of finding someone who understood us. Our conversation began with simple words. Nothing extraordinary happened that day. We did not know that a brief conversation would become the foundation of a friendship that would last for years. We simply talked, discovered a few common interests, and laughed a little. Looking back, that moment feels like destiny quietly introducing two people who would become important parts of each other's lives. As the years passed, I continued to find her sitting beside me on the same bench. We studied together, shared secrets, laughed over silly jokes, and supported each other through difficult times. We spent countless hours around the same dining table, eating hostel food that we once strongly disliked. Somehow, those meals became enjoyable simply because we shared them together.

Like every strong friendship, ours faced challenges. There were people who tried to create misunderstandings between us. Some attempted to turn us against each other. But what kept us together was stronger than rumors, opinions, or temporary conflicts. It was the trust we had built, the memories we had created, and the understanding that genuine friendship is not broken by the words of others. Without realizing it, five years passed.

Today, we have graduated from high school, and our lives are moving in different directions. Yet some things remain unchanged. Whenever there is happiness to celebrate, she is one of the first people I think of. Whenever life becomes difficult, she is still someone I can rely on. Distance, time, and changing circumstances have never weakened the bond we built years ago in that hostel room.

This friendship taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my life: choosing the right friend can change your entire journey. A true friend does not simply make good days better; they help you survive the difficult ones. They remind you of your strength when you doubt yourself. They stand beside you when others walk away.

Many people enter our lives, but only a few leave footprints on our hearts. Choosing friends based on kindness, trust, respect, and loyalty is one of the most important decisions we can make. The right friend may not solve all your problems, but they can make every challenge easier to face.

Looking back, I realize that while the hostel taught me independence, my friendship taught me resilience. And among all the lessons I learned during those years, that may be the most precious one of all.

The river flows, the ocean stands still,

a part of my life I can’t fill

Just a soul drifting among humans

with thirst and hunger that never ends.

Two bodies, two faces, two hearts,

yet somehow I still fell for her.

Your eyes, your nose, your lips,

two souls breathing as one.

Isn’t it strange, O God?

I asked for a friend...

and you gave me a soulmate.