The last moment

It was a warm summer evening, and the sun was just beginning to set over the horizon. Emma sat on her front porch, taking in the beautiful colors of the sky and enjoying the peacefulness of the neighborhood. She had just finished her final exams and was looking forward to a relaxing summer before starting her first year of college in the fall.

Suddenly, Emma's phone buzzed, breaking her out of her reverie. She looked down to see a message from her best friend, Sarah.

"Hey, are you free tonight? I have something important to tell you."

Emma hesitated for a moment. She was exhausted from her exams and was looking forward to a quiet night in. But Sarah was her best friend, and she knew that whatever was going on must be important.

"Yeah, I'm free. What's going on?" Emma texted back.

"I'll explain when I get there. Can I come over now?"

Emma sighed but agreed. She knew that Sarah was the type of person who didn't beat around the bush, and if she said something was important, it was.

A few minutes later, Sarah pulled up in front of Emma's house. Emma went outside to meet her, and they hugged tightly.

"Okay, spill. What's going on?" Emma asked.

Sarah took a deep breath. "I just got a call from my aunt. She lives in France, and she's dying. She wants to see me one last time before she goes."

Emma's heart sank. Sarah's aunt had always been like a second mother to her, and the thought of losing her was devastating.

"I'm so sorry, Sarah. What can I do to help?" Emma asked.

Sarah shook her head. "I don't know. I just need to figure out how to get to France as soon as possible."

Emma nodded in understanding. "Let's figure this out together. We can do this."

The two girls spent the rest of the night researching flights and hotels, trying to find the most affordable and quickest way for Sarah to get to France. They both knew that time was of the essence, and that Sarah needed to get there as soon as possible.

After hours of searching, they finally found a flight that was leaving in the morning. It wasn't the cheapest option, but it was the quickest, and they knew they couldn't afford to waste any more time.

Sarah left Emma's house early the next morning, with tears in her eyes and a heavy heart. Emma promised to keep in touch and to do whatever she could to help from afar.

Over the next few days, Emma did everything she could to support Sarah from a distance. She sent her encouraging messages, helped her with translation when necessary, and even called the hospital to make sure everything was going okay.

Despite their efforts, Sarah's aunt passed away a few days later. Emma knew how much Sarah was hurting and wished she could be there to comfort her.

A few weeks went by, and Emma was starting to feel better about the situation. She had just landed a summer job and was excited to start working. But then, she received a call from Sarah.

"I'm coming home," Sarah said, her voice shaking. "I can't stay here anymore."

Emma was surprised but understanding. She knew that Sarah needed to be with her family and that being away from them was taking a toll on her.

When Sarah arrived back home, Emma was there to greet her at the airport. They hugged tightly, and Emma could feel Sarah's tears soaking into her shoulder.

"I'm so sorry," Emma whispered. "I wish I could have done more."

Sarah pulled away and looked at Emma, her eyes full of gratitude. "You did everything you could, Emma. I don't know what I would have done without you