She was sitting there with an empty, tired look. The wrinkles on her hands and face told a story. A story of pain, laughter, love, and family. Her time was coming to a close. She knew it, along with everyone else she knew and loved. The many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren whom she cared and loved deeply all sat alongside her as she took her final breaths. The sound of mournful sobs filled the room as she took her final breath and let it out with a happy sigh. She had finally gone home.

We were best friends, she and I. The age difference did not seem to matter to either of us. She was very old when we became friends. She watched me so that I wouldn't get hurt while my parents were away. She read to me, played with my baby dolls and made sure they were safe while I was at "work". There was never a dull moment with us. She taught me about all of life's beauties and I would show her how to look at things differently. One day, I got the most exciting news ever! She was moving in with us! This was the most exciting thing I had ever encountered in my life! I was going to live with my best friend!

She moved in and it was great. We did everything together. We ate together, we played together, we took naps together. Everything was perfect. Then it was time for school. I would get up and go to school and then have to come home and do homework. There was no time to be with my best friend anymore. She helped me with my homework and I helped her get ready for bed. She helped me with my life problems and I helped her walk to her chair. She helped me see the brighter side of things and I helped her go outside to see the bright day. We sat and watched TV together, or sometimes just sat and talked.Things were getting to be plain and simple with us.

Soon, I was older and she was too. We still saw each other every day. I would leave for school and tell her, "Bye" and "I love you." She replied with, "I love you too, puddin'." Sometimes I would still go and talk with her and watch TV with her. Since I was older, I did not need as much help with my school work, and since she was older, she needed more help getting around. Then we had someone to stay with her so that she could have her own best friend to make sure she didn't get hurt while we were away.

I am older now and she is gone. She has gone home. I don't see her but I know she is always there. She is looking down on me saying, "I am proud of you, puddin'." I know she will always be my guardian angel.