this is my Deptula Essay Contest written for school.

I was instantly friends with him when I was born. We were best friends at first sight. We made each other laugh, we made each other cry. We cheered each other up, we’d put each other down. We did everything together and I’ll always remember him.

When I was a toddler I’d go over his house every day. We’d take long car rides together and enjoy the calm scenery. We’d walk down the train tracks just north of his house. On these walks and rides, stories would be told, tales of joy, and secrets to be locked away for nobody to know. We had such a close bond and we would grow together.

Years were passing by like a race car on a straight away. For it seemed like just yesterday we were clueless strangers to life. We had both become so much wiser. I was now a fluent speaker of the language of life and I could now express my emotions to him. He was like a human diary; open for entries, closed for sharing. He was so kind to me, yet so many times I took advantage of him.

When I turned seven that August day in 2001, he was there with cake and presents. We laughed and cried that day, remembering our pasts, and predicting our futures. The month went on, it turned into September. He seemed different, tired, worn. I loved my best friend, he was like a brother, and I knew something was wrong, but what? I would soon find out in the months to come.

The time rocketed by, taking me to December. I found out just last month that he was diagnosed with cancer. I was so young, and clueless about that killer disease. Every time I visited him that month, I was pained by the fact that he couldn’t remember me. My mom led me out each time, her and I drenched in tears. On December 26th of that year, my best friend, my brother-like hero, who I knew as my grandpa, died of cancer. My grandpa was a great man. He was like my mentor, my best friend, brother, and playmate, all in one. I will forever miss him, as will many, and forever will I love him.