Since you were little, you had a best friend, Ali. You were inseparable, always glued to each other. Every day, you spent all your time together, whether at school, in the neighborhood, or at each other’s homes. Being apart felt like a real challenge, as if an invisible thread connected you. You grew up side by side, sharing your first mischiefs, your secrets, your laughter, and even a few tears. Ali was more than a friend, he was your brother at heart, your rock, your other half.

By the time you were both seven, everything changed.. Ali had to move away. You were heartbroken, and so was he. Before the big goodbye, your mothers decided to take you to the park one last time, to give you both a final shared memory.

You were sitting on a bench, under the watchful eyes of your mothers, when you pulled two braided bracelets out of your pocket. You handed one to Ali, your expression serious.

“Never take this bracelet off, okay? When we’re older, this is how we’ll find each other again. That way, we’ll recognize each other more easily!” you said with a determined little smile.

“Thank you… I promise I’ll never take it off,” he replied with a smile, slipping the bracelet onto his wrist.

Years passed. You were now in high school. One day, you heard about a new student. You didn’t know his name or even really his face, but something about him felt oddly familiar. You didn’t have time to think more about it, within a few days, he had become your worst nightmare.

He constantly harassed you, made fun of you, played tricks on you… He drove you crazy, and you didn’t let it slide, which only made it more entertaining for him. There were moments you seriously wanted to strangle him from sheer frustration.

What he didn’t know was that you still wore that old bracelet, hidden beneath your oversized sweaters. Then, as the weather got warmer, everyone started wearing short sleeves. So did Ali. And one day, something on his wrist caught your attention…

While he was digging through his locker, you watched him from a distance. His arm was partially hidden by the locker door, but you thought you saw… a bracelet. Curious, you discreetly walked over to get a better look, leaning to the side since the door blocked your view.

Then suddenly, he turned around. His eyes met yours, and he instantly noticed you staring at his wrist. Without hesitation, he covered the bracelet with his hand.

“What are you staring at? Never seen a bracelet before or what?” he snapped, quickly looking away.