The Lilac Tunnel: My Journey with Samantha

I find Samantha in the kitchen, and I take her hand and take her to the parlor. I tell her that before I go, I want to give her something. I untie the friendship bracelet for my wrist and reach over to tie it onto Samantha’s. I tell her a good friend of mine made it for me. And while I’ve been here, Samantha has been a good friend, too. Samantha stares at the bracelet and then looks at me, her eyes shining. She nods and leans over to give me a hug. When she pulls away, she said she wishes there was something she could give me. I tell her she’s done a lot for me already. I rubbed my forehead and Samantha smiles and giggles.

The next morning, I’m on the train, which is pulling slowly away from the station. When I can no longer see Samantha and Hawkins waving at me from the platform, I start to think about home. I was so lonely without Stella at first, but making a friend with Samantha helped to fill that hole in my heart. Now I’m going back to my dad’s missing Samantha, too. What will make that feel better?

Then, I picture Gracie’s face. She’s so excited about having a new sister. I wish I felt the same way, but my mom said it might take some time. Gracie and I can’t become sisters overnight. But maybe we could start by being friends. I reach for the locket, imagining Gracie’s face when I walk through the bedroom door and ask her if she’d like to do a project with me. Then I picture the box of craft supplies that I brought from home. There’s embroidery floss in the box, the kind used to make friendship bracelets. I’ll make one for Gracie, and I’ll teach her how to make one for me.