"I just can't believe this is happening? Why do you have to go?" Anna laments while hugging her best friend so tight like she will not let go. Jo holds on to Anna as well.

"I'm sorry Anna. I don't want to leave you too. You know how much our friendship means to me but this is for my mom and dad, for our family," Jo starts to explain.

She takes a deep breath and stares around. She blinks several times to keep her tears from falling. Jo doesn't like Anna to see how terribly sad she is feeling right now. She knows it will make things harder for her best friend to say goodbye too if she sees her tears.

Jo looks up to the darkening sky. The weather seems to take a gloomy mood too. It is almost sundown but the sun is as if in a hurry to set.

“It’s getting dark. I think it is about to rain.”

Jo tries to say something casually about the weather as she squints her eyes to the remaining ray of light from the sun.

"Finally, we will all be together. Dad has been away for a long time and I know that makes Mom miserable because we were left here. They have decided that I should grow up here. I should stay in a place where everything is peaceful." She continues.

“Yup this place is going to be a lot quieter without you.” Anna interjects while smirking, in an attempt to tease Jo.

"They spend so much time apart for my sake. Dad's Archaeological job has taken him away from us way too long and now that there's a chance that we can join him in Alaska, we really have to go. I think I ought to give them a chance to be together." Jo takes another deep breath.

She hopes that her speech is as convincing to her friend. She feels she finds it hard to lie to Anna. Growing up together really makes them more like sisters.

"Alaska, huh, imagine me going there? Everything is frozen, not much greens to see. I know I will miss this place a lot and most especially you!" Jo adds in a lighter tone to pacify her friend's sadness, and hers too.

"I know, I know, and I do understand, it's for your family. I am happy that finally you will all be together. I just thought we will graduate together and go to College!" Anna says but now a bit calmer.

"I wonder how you will manage Mathematics?!" she teases Jo once more. Anna grins a bit.

"Great, Anna! Thanks for reminding me! Maybe I will end up flunking my Math subject and they will end up kicking me back here quickly.” Jo replies sarcastically. At least it made her friend smile.

“I will miss you terribly! You always solve my homework. I just get confuse with all those numbers. Dad will surely have me tutored, I guess." Jo replies with a frown. She recalls the endless times Anna patiently explains to her, hoping she will finally get it but fails.

"I will chat with you every day. I know you are not into internet and stuff, but that's the fastest way we can talk to each other! I will miss you every day my bestie," Jo reminds Anna reassuringly.

Anna just nods and gives her friend another tight embrace. Her locket starts to glow. Both break away from their embrace.

“Even my locket misses you already.” Anna takes the locket out to show her friend the pulsing green light from her neck.

“Okay, okay I get the message. Hey, Anna… Stay weird alright?” Jo makes a last attempt to humor her friend.

“Well, you know me? You won’t find anyone in Alaska like me.” Anna retorts back at her with a little giggle.

"Do you still have the key I gave you for your tenth birthday? Keep it with you and keep writing to me every day like I am here. Just put every letter in the wooden box. I will read them when I get back, promise." Jo instructs her, serious once more.

Anna pulls the necklace once again from underneath her green cotton shirt to show Jo the key dangling with her emerald locket. The locket is glowing once more.

She turns around and touches a part of the trunk of the willow tree. Anna pushes a little groove in one part. After her hands found what it's looking for, she places the key to open a secret hole. Then she takes out the wooden box, opens it and takes out a blue paper.

"Here, read this when you miss me there," Anna says as she places the blue paper on her best friend’s hand.

"As for me, I miss you already. Our fifteen years of friendship will see more years to come. Take care of yourself Joanna!" she finishes as she hugs her friend again.

"You take care of yourself too, Arianna! You know what; I might end up reading this even before I reach Alaska. I will come back okay?" Jo promises again.

She folds the blue paper and places it in her jeans' right pocket. From the left one, Jo takes out a green paper.

“Here, I have one for you as well. Read it later.” Jo hands Anna the green folded paper.

"How much time do you have?" Anna inquires, glancing at the road, as far as her eyes can see. Looking at it reminds her how far of a distance her friend's destination will be. Her expression turns into a frown again.

"Actually, a little bit more. Mom and Dad are on their way here now after they leave the keys of our house to Aunt Lila." Jo answers, automatically checking her watch.

Jo stares at the blue door of Anna's house across the street. She seems to be making sure to remember it vividly.

The blue door has never changed its color ever since she can recall. Popsie Reed seems to be attached to that color.

Jo smiles to herself. I miss them already. She cannot count anymore how many times she has slept over their house whenever her Dad and Mom go out on a date when her Dad comes back from Alaska, for a short time for a break from work. Those were precious bonding moments.

Both girls sit under the willow tree, their willow tree. The tree that has been their fortress since they both learned how to climb it. The willow tree has been the silent witness of how their friendship grew. It is their trustworthy keeper of their secrets. Jo stares at the leaves overhead, that she will miss too. She can feel her eyes starting to get wet. She wipes them quickly with her fingers before her friend notices.

Anna and Jo sit in a comfortable silence with each other. Probably both are wondering how different their lives will be far apart from each other. They hold hands the whole time.

After a while, a grey van arrives in front of them. The van feels like a bell tolling to remind the girls of their ticking moments left.

They suddenly snap out from their deep thoughts. Both girls stand slowly, taking their time a bit. Both are still holding on to each other's hand.

Mr and Mrs Daniels walk up to the girls. Reed and Rose emerge from the blue door. They cross the street from their house to see the Daniels' departure.

Olivia Daniels gives Rose a tight embrace after saying, "keep in touch, Rose.”

We are not sure when we will be back because of Mark's job, but we will definitely be missing you all. Thank you for treating Jo like your own daughter."

"Oh, hush, Liv. Anna and Jo are like sisters already."

Rose sniffs, suppressing her tears from falling.

“You are family to us already.” She adds.

Rose hands a pack of sandwiches to Olivia as she says, "For your trip, Jo might get hungry."

Mark Daniels and Reed exchange a steady arm hug, "take it easy out there, man."

Then, that is it for Anna and Jo. They hug, cry and sigh in defeat.

"Goodbye for now," Jo whispers.

"Goodbye for now," Anna whispers back.

Their clasped hands don’t seem to want to separate. But they know it's really time to part for now.

So, right beside the willow tree, Mr and Mrs Rivers, with Anna, watch as the grey van of Mr and Mrs Daniels, with Jo, slowly disappears at the corner of the street.

Suddenly, Anna feels like the weather became colder, lonelier, sadder...

"Goodbye..." someone else seems to whisper. Anna glances at the willow tree.

Anna sits underneath the willow tree with her legs crossed. She is feeling restless though she should be happy for it’s her special day.

"What a birthday..." she sighs disappointedly.

She never thought she will feel so miserable and alone on her sixteenth birthday. Earlier during the day, her Marmee tried convincing her to invite a few of her classmates. She blatantly declined. She would rather be by herself. The single good thing for her today is that Marmee Rose lets her wear her casual clothes.

She misses her best friend so much. It has only been over a year when Jo and her family went to Alaska but it feels like it's been way longer than that.

Jo talks to her every day in the internet but it's really not the same. Her best friend updates her daily and she does too. Although when their conversations finally end, she misses Jo even more. It’s a consolation that her friend is doing well there with her parents. At least one of them is happy.

It is not that she is unhappy with her parents but all her life, Jo has been there for her. Maybe Jo adjusts easier than her. She sighs deeply with that thought. She has to suck it up after all.

She starts rubbing the key dangling, with her locket on her necklace that she never takes off. The key is an additional memento given by Jo, her best friend. It came with a wooden box which she uses to keep her letters for Jo.

As for the emerald locket, she can't remember when she got the necklace but her Marmee told her that she was wearing it since she was an infant. Her Marmee said it’s her natal gift for her.

Anna recalls her tenth birthday when Jo and Anna had such a great time. It didn't matter if Jo was her only guest. That's all she needs, her best friend.

But today, it hurts so much for her to spend this day alone, under their tree, Jo's and hers...like they always say "our willow tree".

Though Jo talked to her from Alaska a few minutes ago, she still feels gloomy. The distance is really hard for her. She wishes that things are simpler like they used too. Well, growing up gets complicated year after year. Maybe that is what she needs to accept.

"Anna, it's getting late. Are you ready to go inside now? You haven't even touched your lime cake." Marmee Rose shouts when she peered from the window.

"You might get cold there!" Marmee adds to remind her.

"Just a few more minutes Marmee!" she hollers back.

"Alright, honey, your Popsie and I are just here okay?" Marmee says with a worried tone.

"My Marmee, she has always been worried about me...not having other friends, not being like the other kids..." Anna talks to herself.

Anna sometimes thinks that even before she feels in a certain way, her Marmee can sense already. All the time she is down, her Marmee knows what to say. Like right now. But somehow, she gets a bit upset that she is like an open book to her Marmee Rose. It is not that she likes to hide her feelings but oftentimes, it worries her Marmee Rose a lot.

This is one of the things she usually does as if it's such an ordinary thing to do. Other kids find it weird when she talks that way. But why will she care about what they think? If only Jo is here...She senses the stress rising from her chest. She feels suffocated.

Anna resumes her sitting position. She sighs, closing her green eyes and placing both her arms on her crossed legs, palms open upward. She takes a few slow and even breaths. She repeats this breathing exercise several times to calm herself. She focuses on her breathing as well as the beating of her heart. Deep in her inner calm, she does not notice her locket glowing underneath her shirt. She stays that way for a while.

Finally, when she feels a bit better, Anna stands up and unlocks a hidden hole with her key and retrieves the wooden box. She reaches in her jeans' pocket and takes out a folded blue paper. This is another addition to her letters for Jo. Popsie Reed was the one who helped Jo to make a hole in the willow tree so Jo will be able to complete her birthday gift for her then.

"Popsie has always known me better. I never had to say anything," Anna blurts out with a smile. Marmee's heart is in the right place but she seems to be always worrying. Why does she feel like Marmee is afraid that something might happen to her?

Unlike her Marmee, her Popsie is the calmer one. Popsie Reed lets Anna join him on his morning jogs along the trail beyond the willow tree. She enjoys hearing the different sounds of nature.

Anna looks at the trail...

For a second, she feels like running away. She is being drawn towards the forest. Anna shakes her head as if to remove the thought. Why would she runaway? Marmee and Popsie will be sad. Maybe she is just yearning for her best friend’s company. Jo is her constant special guest, year after year, her only guest on her birthday. Nobody else matters.

Anna’s attention returns to the wooden box. She stares at the dominance of blue letters from the green ones. This reminds her how long since she got a handwritten letter from her friend. She sighs then returns the box.

Anna climbs to a thicker branch of the willow and starts to sit facing the trail. Though to her surprise, someone else was sitting on the other side of the willow tree. The mysterious intruder is busy drawing on the ground with a stick. She holds back trying to decide what to do next. Should she just go back to the house? She gets a little curious.

From Anna's view, it is a boy, maybe the same age as hers and is wearing a weird kind of brown clothing. Her curiosity gets the best of her.

"Who are you?" Anna enquires from above where she sits. However, she decides to say it calmly so as not to startle him.

The strange boy jumps to his feet startled by Anna's voice. He looks up with a puzzled expression then asks a question instead.

"You can see me?" still in disbelief.

“There goes my subtlety.” Anna exclaims as she stares at the boy with a confused look.

"Of course, I can see you. Do I look blind to you?" she adds.

Anna climbs down the tree and walks towards the boy who's still holding his strange stick, or a staff? Or is it a wand? Anna gapes at the boy again. He is wearing a longsleeved shirt all the way to his hips with pants tucked inside his boots all in the shade of brown. His outfit makes him look like one of the hobbits from the adventure movie Jo and Anna watched, except that he is not barefooted, and of course not as short. But he is definitely good looking. Anna smirks a little.

"I have been coming here a lot since I was young but nobody sees me ever. What are you?" the boy in brown asks suspiciously. He still has not given away anything about himself.

"What do you mean what am I? Do I look like I came from outer space or something? You're the one who looks strange!" Anna retorts, starting to get upset. Anna starts to consider her first thought, which is to leave this strange boy alone. But her interest wins over.

“I live just across the street! There at the house with a very blue door!” she is shouting now and a little flushed already.

“Great, I just pointed to a total stranger where I live! Way to go Anna, just wait for him to strangle you in your sleep…” she babbles on.

“Oh, now I even dropped my name for good measure!” Anna shakes her head ignoring the strange boy for once. She is really deciding to turn her back on him now.

Suddenly, the boy holds out his hand to Anna, "I'm sorry, I did not mean to upset you. I'm Caspian by the way." The strange guy changes his tone, friendlier now.

Anna stares at Caspian's hand still outstretched in front of her. She is debating with herself if she will accept this boy's acquaintance.

Yes, he has a weird appearance because of what he is wearing. But weird is not something new to Anna. Also, he already knows her name and where she lives due to her outburst earlier.

So, what the heck? Anna starts to consider.

"Oh, come on, I apologized already. Can we be friends now?" Caspian says with a smile. He has a cute smile too.

"Okay, your apology is accepted, only because it's my birthday today. I'm being generous. Call me Anna!” Anna explains.

“Oh yeah, I already said my name to myself a while ago…” she says in afterthought.

Caspian smiles even more. Really weird girl, but pretty, especially her eyes, he thought.

"Anna, it’s time to go inside! It's beginning to get dark." They hear from across the street.

That will be Marmee, Anna thought.

"I have to go now! It was nice meeting you, I guess. Goodbye, Caspian! See you around."

Anna hurries to cross the street without looking back while Caspian can’t take his eyes off her. He is still wondering about their unexpected acquaintance. He waits for her to go in through that blue door.

"Happy birthday, Anna! See you again..." Caspian replies in a whisper, as he disappears behind the willow tree.

Clouds start to darken the sky and the sun has already set in the horizon. This signifies the end of another day. Nevertheless, somehow, this will be the beginning of a new friendship between Anna and the strange boy named Caspian.

Late nights are fun when you are busy chatting away with your best friend far across the world from you. That is how both Anna and Jo feel right now.

"What time will you sleep? Do you still have some papers to finish?”

“Are you sure you're doing okay there? What about that guy you mentioned last time? I remember he is the one who's the son of your Dad's colleague?" Anna asks without a pause.

"You mean, Joshua Brown? He's in College, a freshman majoring in Math. He has been helping me out in my math studies. You know how I am with figures, right?”

“Luckily, Josh is very patiently explaining those confusing numbers to me. He argues that math is part of our daily living so I should get used to dealing with them. If you personally want my opinion, calculators, well, even phones can do that.” Jo points out with conviction in her tone. She tries to talk casually when mentioning Josh but Anna knows her best friend really well. Jo likes Josh. Jo is just being herself. She always attempts to show disinterest in everything except about their friendship.

“But my papers are easy peasy! Our professor here says my essays are well written. I guess I have lots of practice when we've been writing to each other every day. I can't wait to give my letters to you when I get back. Dad says his work will wrap up in time for my graduation here. So that will be a little less than a year from now.” She continues talking excitedly.

“Sorry Dad took so long. I miss you a lot you know, "Jo shouts loudly from the screen. The reception is crappy that she feels the need to shout to her friend.

Anna allows her friend to babble on with her stories. She loves listening to her stories about her life in Alaska.

"Congratulations! I'm so proud of you. I can't wait for you to get back!”

“Popsie says we can go camping when you get back. There's a lot of the forest we have not yet explored. I know you miss the forest too." Anna blurts out when she gets her chance to chime in the conversation.

"Yup, I can't wait for the greenery! Alaska is but tons and tons of ice. I tried going outdoors once with Josh but climbing our tree is much more fun than slipping down slopes!" Jo complains to her best friend.

There goes her best friend again. She is pretty sure that Jo somehow enjoyed her skiing with Josh. She smiles at Jo on the screen.

"You and Josh seem to be having fun together. I hope I get to meet him someday. Someone who teaches you Math stuff as patiently as I can is a guy, I give two thumbs up." Anna teases.

"Well he is a lot mature than the guys there in our neighborhood. He likes the outdoors than playing games in the net. He likes to meet you too. Of course, I told him a lot about my best friend. Maybe one time when we chat again, I will make sure Josh is around so you could at least meet virtually." Jo ignores her teasing. She definitely likes him. Anna concludes to herself.

"What's the name of that boy again you saw at our willow tree? Casper?" Jo asks, finally changing the topic.

"Stop that!" Anna exclaims as she turns to look at her mirror, her face blushing.

"What? Did I say something wrong?" Jo sounds surprised.

"Not you Jo, sorry," Anna explains, seeing her reflection in her mirror giving her a silly grin.

"Are you talking to your reflection again? So, how's that reflection of yours? That's one of the things I miss when we're together. I can never stop being amazed with you and your hidden talents!" Jo laughs at her friend.

"It's just that she keeps smiling at me ever since I met Caspian!" Anna clarifies to Jo.

"So, this Caspian guy, is he cute? Do you meet him at our tree often? What is he like? Have you told Popsie and Marmee about him?" Jo teases her a bit.

"Please, not you too, Jo!” Anna complains playfully.

“He is kind of cute but in a weird way. He wears this brown outfit every time we see each other. I don't know if it's some kind of uniform or costume.” She says with a grin, envisioning again how Caspian looks with his clothing.

“I don't ask because I don't like to offend him." Anna narrates.

"I'm just glad that you found a friend when I left. At least now you have someone to talk to. I don't mind sharing our tree with your new friend. Just make sure to introduce him to me when I am finally back. I feel guilty leaving you." Jo explains thoughtfully.

"So, where does he live? Does he go to the same school? What about his parents?" Jo adds.

"Caspian never mentions his parents. He told me he lives beyond the other side of the forest. Remember the valley that Popsie said that caught fire when we were still babies? That's why Marmee doesn't like us to go beyond the usual trail that Popsie takes when he jogs every morning." Anna recalls.

"Hmm, so there are people living there again? I thought it was a deserted place because a lot of people are scared of what happened there?” Jo ponders.

“My Dad says that place used to be so beautiful. There are so many extra ordinary plants and trees growing. In the past, there were fresh produce market there and people go there to buy their veggies, herbs and other stuff.”

“It sounds like a cool place to visit then. Mom even said that there used to be a farming settlement there so the place was well kept right before the fire.”

“Too bad we were just babies at the time to see for ourselves the beauty of that place.” Jo points out.

"But what is Caspian doing so far away from their place?" Jo sounds puzzled.

"He says he has been going to our tree for a while now but told me no one sees him.”

“According to him also, he even knew how you look like. He said he has seen us when we were still kids just like him. We climb the tree and he was there just with his stick.”

“Caspian loves drawing on the ground. That's how I saw him on my sixteenth birthday. A bit weird huh?" Anna narrates.

"Yup, pretty weird because I would have noticed if there was a strange guy with a stick lurking around our willow tree. Well, you always have a knack for strange things.”

“Remember when you slipped from the willow tree when we were seven? I thought you'll hurt your head but you hit the ground without a scratch. Your locket suddenly glowed nonstop." Jo reminisces.

"A lot of weird things but I never told anyone anything. Not even Popsie or Marmee. I'm scared they might think something is wrong with me. They always look so worried about me, like something might happen to me, especially Marmee." Anna says as an afterthought.

"I'm glad I have you," Anna blurts out.

"You have never made me feel different. Anything you see odd about me or what happens around me, you just get amazed but never look at me like I'm scary or creepy.

That’s why I miss you terribly." Anna reminds her friend.

"Same sentiments for me right here my friend! I'm glad to have you to tolerate all my quirks. We have such a weird friendship.” Jo jokes around.

“Okay, Anna, let's sleep now, before I start crying here! You take care of yourself, Anna. Say hi to Caspian for me. Sweet dreams!" Jo ends the video chat.

Anna smiles as she shuts off her computer. She turns to look at her reflection again.

"Stop teasing okay? We are just talking about Caspian because Jo asked. Is that clear? So now we are both smiling..." she says then turns her light off.

After a while, Anna's breathing steadies. She has fallen asleep with a smile on her face.

In the darkness of Anna's room, her locket starts to glow steadily. From outside, it looks as if she has caught a firefly in a jar, but the glow emitting, instead of a yellow light, is green...