Meeting an old friend

It was only a short distance to Mike's home. Nancy recognised it immediately and upon reaching the front door, she rummaged through her bag, and retrieved a key. "Just in case you needed any more convincing" she mumbled under her breath. Nancy fit the key into the lock and turned it. With a gentle push, the door swung open. "You gave this to me last year" she said, holding the key in front of Mike who simply stood there in stunned silence.

The pair made their way inside.

"Maybe I better go first" Mike suggested. "Mike" a woman's voice called out. "It's only me" Mike called back. He disappeared into one of the rooms and immediately, an intense conversation could be heard. Nancy studied some of the photos that lined the hallway, displaying her friends as they aged from her perspective, overnight.

Nancy wasn't able to admire the photos for long. A woman stood at the end of the hall, her jaw dropped. She approached Nancy gently touching her arm, as if to check that she wasn't a ghost. Nancy instantly recognised her best friend, Alice. The two had been thick as thieves and went everywhere together; Nancy could only imagine how hard it had been to lose her. Alice reached out again, this time in a tight hug that felt like she would never let go.

Alice needed no proof, she knew her best friend when she saw her, even after all those years.