Editing Set in Stone (section)

== Chapter 3 ==
  ''June 15th, 2010''

  ''Well, I haven’t written here for a little while, but I’m really scared about the future, and… I needed to talk about it. So. Here I am. I’m going to a college in Georgia two months from now, majoring in geology. Leslie is going to a different college, for art, but it's also in Georgia, so that's awesome that we can stay together! I’m really nervous to move away from my parents though… How funny is it that a little thing like boredom can take me here? But here I am I guess. Well, Leslie is calling to me from the rock, bye! Maybe I’ll come and write again later.''

  I walked to the familiar old rock, the path I had taken countless times. The rock, just like our friendship, had been through its rough patches, but what was left was as sturdy as anything I knew. I thought about how lucky I was to still have Leslie as a friend. By now, most childhood friendships had fallen apart, yet here we were, almost grown adults, and as good friends as ever! I smiled.

  As I approached our rock, I looked at Leslie, who was beaming from ear to ear, and holding some sort of paper.

  “Alex! Guess what I just got!” She exclaimed, brimming over with excitement and happiness.

  “What?” I said, smiling at her excitement, as I started climbing up on the rock.

  “I got accepted into an art college in California!” She said, clearly ecstatic.

  The ledge underneath my foot gave way, I fell down onto my back, and then it was dark.

  When I came to, Leslie was once again standing over me, asking if I was ok. 

  “I- I’m ok. I just fell.” I stammered. In reality, I was reeling from the information I had just received. Now, instead of Leslie coming to Georgia with me, she was going to the other side of the country?

  “I thought you were coming to college in Georgia with me?” I said, confused.

  “Well…” She said, “I thought that too. I applied to this college, but they are so advanced, and they hadn’t reached out to me, so I assumed I hadn’t made it. But I just got their acceptance letter!” I could practically see the stars in her eyes.

  “That's awesome!” I said, trying to be excited for her, but still in shock. I didn’t even know what was happening even more.

  “Hey… Leslie… I should go back to my house. I think I heard… My mom… and I need to make sure I don’t have a concussion or anything…” I started walking back before I heard her response. When I got home, I went up into my bed and just lay there, staring at the ceiling with tears in my eyes. Leslie couldn’t be going to California! It just couldn’t be true! What would happen to our friendship! I fell asleep on my bed, shoes on and everything, hugging my pillow.

  I woke up to Mom coming into my room.

  “Alex? Are you ok? 

  I shook my head, looking at the wall.

  She sat next to me on my bed quietly for a while, until I was ready to talk. 

  “Mom, Leslie is going to a college in California. What will happen? What if she forgets about me? Makes other best friends? What if we are never best friends again? What if, from now on, we only pass each other by in life? I can’t do that!” I said. The very idea of it made me want to curl up in a ball, fall asleep, and never wake up, but instead I leaned against Mom and waited for her to speak. I could tell she was thinking, so I just sat in her embrace and waited. After a couple minutes she spoke.

  “Well Son, here is the first, most important thing. God is in control, and wants what is best for both of you,”

  I nodded. I knew that much was true, even if it was hard to feel it.

  “And I know it is hard to believe that sometimes, so although that should be your ultimate hope, I have another encouragement for you. You guys have been friends for years, right?”

  I nodded again.

  “Well then, if it can hold through all of the changing and growing up that you have done, then I think it will be able to survive the distance, you will just both have to be more intentional, which, if this friendship means as much to both of you as it seems, I don’t think will be a problem. A real friendship like you and Leslie have is pretty hard to break, even if you want to.”

  I thought about this.

  “Yeah… you’re right. Thanks, Mom” I said, resting my head on her shoulder.