I miss school days

Good evening everyone! I have short story to share.
As I was scrolling through my Instagram highlights and came across pictures of my grade 9 circle of friends. It hit me how much I already miss them. The last time I saw my group was on April 14, our recognition day — the final day I got to be with my grade nine classmates.

I remember my first week of school — it was full of surprises and fun. I met so many new faces and somehow became friends with almost everyone in the classroom within just two weeks.

But these were the friends closest to me, and honestly, I don’t think I could have survived the school year without them. They brought so much joy to my year and made schoolwork feel less overwhelming. We’d hang out after school on the second day, and that was when I first visited a place called “Dyke.” The air was fresh, and the surroundings were so peaceful.

That place became one of my favorites — it’s where my classmates and I used to spend time together. I miss it a lot. I also remember how my closest friends and I used to go home together, sometimes stopping to buy street food like kwekwek and buko juice — my favorite snacks! Those days were some of the best in my life. It was my first real experience of high school, learning how to hang out with friends after school and on weekends. The fun seemed endless.

But then, things in my friend group began to fall apart. Some started talking badly behind each other’s backs. One of my female friends, Divine, began betraying another friend, Shiandee, by spreading jealous rumors. We defended Shiandee because the things Divine said were clearly driven by envy. Our friend group grew quiet for a while, but it didn’t last. Another friend, Alliah, stepped up and arranged a confrontation between Divine and Shiandee. They talked, argued, but eventually made up — though they never became as close as before. Their interactions felt forced and fake.

While things seemed okay on the surface, I noticed more friends were betraying each other and being dishonest. I confronted them one by one, trying to understand their sides because I was scared of losing them. Alliah confided in me that she wanted to leave the group because the situation was too toxic. I agreed. No matter what we tried, we couldn’t fix it. So, one by one, we left — not wanting to hurt one friend despite her negativity and fake behavior. Eventually, my circle of friends was broken.

We all drifted apart, though we remained friends individually. We no longer hung out as a group, but Alliah, Sam and I stayed close — just the three of us. They are the best friend I could ask for.

Alliah and Sam has always been genuine and kind. They have never been toxic or problematic — a true friend, even now. The three of us sort of form a trio, though Alliah and Sam don’t really vibe with each other. I love them both, but I still miss my old circle. I miss how we used to spend so much time together after school. I miss the fun we had.

I didn’t like how my grade nine year ended, but I’m grateful to still have my best friends by my side. Most importantly, I learned that everything is temporary — nothing lasts forever as time moves forward.