Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Lock (04/16/26)
-
TITLE: Best Friends | Previous Challenge Entry
By Steve Rosas
04/23/26 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
They had spoken often at first but that changed a month ago. They had been having a video chat, but Andrea did not turn on her camera. Emily had been chatting about things- a recent date, a job interview, an upcoming graduation party, a summer trip. Andrea had been unusually silent. She eventually said that she had something to show Emily and turned on her camera. Emily was shocked to see a bald face looking back at her. She knew that the chemotherapy would likely result in hair loss but was still surprised to see her friend’s face.
The conversation ended shortly after that. They still talked but not as often and not for long. There were no more video calls. Emily stayed clear of any type of happy subject, in fear that she would cause pain for Andrea.
Emily looked away from the mirror and looked up the brochure in her hand. It was titled “Locks of Love, joining the fight against cancer.” She was startled out of her thoughts by her phone. It indicated a video call from Andrea. Emily answered and was not surprised to find that Andrea’s camera was turned off.
“Hi Andrea. What’s up?”
“I have some good news. I have enough credits to graduate.”
“That is fantastic. Congratulations. Are you going to walk?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Why not? We’ve been best friends since kindergarten. We should do this together.”
“I really don’t want to be the hairless girl trying to keep a cap on this bald head. Look at this thing.”
To Emily’s surprise, Andrea turned on her camera. Emily was careful to guard the look on her face as she stared at Andrea’s face.
“It’s not so bad.”
“Don’t lie to me. It’s terrible.”
“No actually, I’ve been hearing that a lot of people are going for that look nowadays. In fact, I’ve been thinking about it myself.”
Emily held up the “Locks of love” brochure.
“Emily, no way. Don’t do it. Your hair is so pretty! Anyway, I would not wear any wig- especially not one made of your hair.”
“I didn’t except you to wear my hair- that would be too weird. I just want to be there for you like you have always been there for me. Remember our first middle school dance? The red marker?”
They laughed together for a first time in a long while. They both remember Emily calling Andrea in tears because she had woken up on the morning of the dance with a huge pimple on her forehead. When she got to the dance, she found that Andrea also had a large red mark on her forehead. It was obviously not a pimple- she had drawn it on with a red marker.
“Andrea, I really think that you should go to the commencement. I’ve been having a hard time deciding about giving away my hair, but now, I am sure. If someone wants to stare at the hairless girl, they will now have two of us to stare at….and between two college educated young professionals, I am sure we can figure put a way to keep the caps on our heads.”
Their screens were silent as they stared at each other. The tears in their eyes and the silent bond of friendship spoke louder than any words”
“Bear one another’s burdens and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ”. Galatians 6:2 New American Standard Version
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
