Ten rules of friendship

After finishing her work, Pam walked home through the quiet streets. The cool air brushed against her face, and the city lights flickered like distant stars. Despite the day’s exhaustion, her mind was focused on only one thing—the list she had started earlier.

As soon as she stepped into her apartment, she made herself a warm cup of tea and settled at her desk. Taking a deep breath, she opened her notebook and picked up her pen.

With careful strokes, she continued writing:

Rule #6: Show love and affection for each other.

Rule #7:Never quarrel over little things.

Rule #8: Sort out matters with mutual understanding.

Rule #9: Spend quality time with each other.

Rule #10:Be kind and generous to one another.

Pam read over the list, a soft smile forming on her lips. Each rule carried the essence of her and Oom’s friendship—memories of their laughter, support, and unwavering trust.

Just as she placed her pen down, her phone vibrated on the table. She glanced at the screen and felt a familiar warmth spread through her chest. It was a call from Oom.

She picked up immediately. “Hey, Oom.”

“Hey, Pam! Were you busy?” Oom’s voice was as lively as ever, bringing back memories of their endless conversations.

“Not at all. Just… finishing something important,” Pam said, her eyes flickering to the notebook.

“Oh? What is it?”

Pam hesitated before chuckling. “You’ll laugh.”

“Try me.”

Pam exhaled, then said, “I finally completed the *Ten Rules of Friendship*.”

There was a brief silence before Oom burst into laughter. “You mean the list we made back in school?”

“The very same.”

“I can’t believe you still remember that!”

“Of course I do. It’s ours.” Pam ran her fingers over the pages. “Wanna hear the complete list?”

“Definitely.”

Pam read out the rules, her voice steady yet filled with nostalgia. When she finished, Oom sighed on the other end. “Wow… these rules really sum up everything about us.”

“They do,” Pam agreed.

Their conversation shifted to their usual chatter—how their days went, the little challenges they faced, the funny moments that made them laugh. It felt as though no time had passed at all.

But as the conversation slowed, Pam found herself lost in thought. “Oom?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you ever think about the day we said goodbye?”

Oom was silent for a moment. “I do,” she admitted. “It was one of the hardest days of my life.”

Pam swallowed the lump in her throat. “Me too.”

She remembered standing at the airport, trying to be strong, but her heart had felt unbearably heavy. They had hugged tightly, promising to always stay in touch, but deep down, there had been a fear—fear that distance would change everything.

“I thought we’d lose what we had,” Pam admitted.

“But we didn’t,” Oom said firmly. “We’re still here, still talking, still us.”

Pam smiled. “Yeah… I guess real friendships don’t fade, no matter how far apart we are.”

“They don’t,” Oom agreed.

A peaceful silence settled between them. Then, Oom’s voice came through, soft but sure. “Pam?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m really proud of us.”

Pam felt a wave of warmth wash over her. “Me too, Oom.”

As they exchanged goodnights and ended the call, Pam placed her phone beside her and looked at the notebook one last time. The "Ten Rules of Friendship" were finally complete, but more importantly, she knew in her heart that their friendship had already passed every test.

With a contented sigh, she closed the notebook and turned off the light. As she lay in bed, she realized something—some friendships weren’t just memories of the past.

Some friendships were meant to last forever.

The End.

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