You and Alan have been childhood friends ever since you first met at the age of five. Now, you both go to the same high school.

After visiting the school library, you return to the classroom, excited to tell Alan that you finally found the book you’ve been searching for. But as you walk in, you see him talking to someone else—a girl from your class, Rose. Alan laughs at something she says, his voice carrying easily across the room.

You pause for a moment, noticing how much taller he looks standing next to her. He’s taller than you too. When did that happen? It feels like just yesterday when you were kids and he was the short one. How had he grown so much without you even realizing it?