Friends.

A simple word which holds great value and importance. Some say that friends are essential in one's life, while others believe that they simply come and go. What do I think? I think that friends do come and go but only the REAL one's stay forever.

When you leave your family and friends behind to study abroad, you don't really realise how challenging the experience is until you wake up one day only to find yourself lying down on someone else's bed, in an unfamiliar room, in a far away country with no one to guide you but your instinct. And when you do, only at that particular moment do you start appreciating your family and friends' presence. The loneliness and emptiness you feel at that very moment fills your heart with so much pain and remorse. You regret not taking advantage of their presence, not expressing how grateful you've been for everything they've done for you, and not telling them how much you love them.

You only come to realise how truly thankful you are for having these certain people in your life, until you are forced to temporarily replace them. The deeper you search for them, the more you realise that they simply don't exist. It's not true that you spend your whole university career friendless, but you certainly comprehend that the people you meet along the way are merely acquaintances.

You compare them to some of your closest friends back home only to regret ever doing so in the first place. Too many differences, infact no similarities at all. You question why you insist on comparing them to your closest friends, but you realise it is practically inevitable.

And even when you finally make new friends, you somehow continue to rely on your old ones for comfort and advice. You only share your secrets with those who have heard them once before. In the end, regardless of the amount of friends you make along the way, your old ones remain your first priority.

Despite your commitment to your old friends, you naturally grow closer to a new friend or two. You realise that although your old friends are irreplaceable, there is no harm in enjoying the company of others while you still can.

Your priorities do not change. You still love and miss your old friends more than words alone can describe. You do sometimes fail to keep intouch, but when you finally do, all is forgotten.

The day finally arrives. You re-unite. You grow more attached to each other than ever. You explain how thankful you are and you inform them of how lucky you have been for having them in your life.

Inevitably, they've all changed. Their interests, beliefs, views and ideas are all different. You choose to ignore your differences because in the end, the love you have for one another is strong enough to outweigh any barrier. You then realise that it's not enough. The change is too grand. You are two completely different people. Your personalities clash. You believe in and look for different things. You choose to ignore it once more and look forward to not having to deal with it when you separate once more.

You come back to the very same room that no longer feels unfamiliar. It is now yours. The bed belongs to you and no one else. Although alone at that very moment, your instinct re-assures you that you will shortly re-unite with the friends you made before the vacation.

You call the first. No answer. You try another number. No answer. After the third attempt, she finally answers. She pretends she doesn't know you and that you haven't even met. She then pretends she vividly remembers you but claims she's too busy to go out. You smile and say it's ok. Your instinct continues to re-assure you that there are two more to call.

Luckily, the other two seem to feel the same way. Before you know it, you stop hearing from them. They refuse to pick up your calls, or reply to your messages.

Having friends does not depend on how sociable a person can be. The most anti-sociable people have them! But you realise that it is not too long before you start waking up every morning to realise that you are once again all alone.