**Friendship's Forever Path**

### An Unexpected Friendship #### New Jersey, USA - An Ordinary School In a quaint little town in New Jersey, there was an ordinary high school with an assortment of students from different backgrounds and cultures. Among them was an unassuming young boy named Alex Martinez. Alex was the kind of guy who blended into the background, finding solace in his world of comic books and video games. One sunny morning, fate played its hand. #### The Bump Walking to his next class with a stack of books in his arms, Alex wasn't paying much attention to his surroundings. As he rounded a corner, he collided with someone. Books and papers flew everywhere. "Oh, gosh! I'm so sorry," he stammered, bending down to pick up the scattered materials. "It's okay! Really, it's my fault," came a soft voice from behind thick, round glasses. Alex looked up to see Deborah Kim. She had the kind of face that revealed her diverse heritage—perhaps Chinese, maybe a mix of other Asian or Caucasian roots. Deborah wore a cozy sweater, jeans, and sandals, her dark hair tied back into a neat ponytail. She adjusted her glasses and started collecting her own fallen books. Alex noticed one of them was a well-worn copy of a classic novel. "You like to read?" Alex asked, trying to make conversation as they both continued to gather their things. She looked up, a hint of a smile forming. "Yeah, I pretty much live in books. I'm Deborah, by the way." "I'm Alex. Nice to meet you. Sorry again for running into you." "It's okay, Alex. Seems like we were meant to bump into each other," she chuckled. #### From Friendship to Bond That accidental encounter was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Alex and Deborah found they had a lot in common. They began spending time together in the school library, discussing everything from their favorite books to life goals and dreams. As the years went by, their bond only grew stronger. They leaned on each other for support through the ups and downs of high school life. School dances, exams, and little life crises were all easier to navigate with a friend by their side. #### The Reunion Ten years quickly passed, and both Alex and Deborah turned 18. Life had taken them in different directions for a time, but they planned to meet up when they both happened to be back home for the summer. They decided to catch up at a local café that had been their go-to spot during high school. As they sat down at a small corner table, Deborah sipped her coffee and smiled. "Can you believe it's been ten years since we first met?" "I know, time flies. Remember how we bumped into each other?" "Yeah, I thought you were never going to talk to me again," Deborah laughed. "I'm really glad we did, though," Alex said, locking eyes with her. "You've been such a big part of my life, even when we were apart." "Same here. It's strange how some friendships just pick up right where they left off, isn't it?" Deborah mused. "Absolutely. Hey, do you want to go for a walk after this?" Alex asked. #### The Bench They left the café and wandered over to the old park where they used to hang out. There was an unassuming wooden bench etched with their initials—A.M. & D.K.—a symbol of their enduring friendship. As they sat down, Alex traced the carvings with his finger. "Remember when we carved this? We were so sure we’d get in trouble." Deborah laughed. "Yeah, but it felt like marking a moment in time, didn’t it? Like saying, 'We were here, and we mattered.'" "Kind of poetic, honestly," Alex grinned. They sat there in comfortable silence, each lost in their memories. The sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the park. "You know, no matter where life takes us, I'm glad we have this," Deborah said softly. "Me too. Here's to the memories we've made and the ones yet to come,” Alex replied. Together, they watched the sun dip below the horizon, knowing that no matter where they went next, their friendship was forever carved in wood—and in their hearts.