Emily is one of my oldest and dearest friends.

On the first day of fourth grade, people kept asking me if I was a twin and saying that there was this girl who looked exactly like me in the other class. I was amazed. I had always wanted a twin. I mean, a built-in friend for life? Who doesn't want that?

We were both new to our school that year, so an already awkward day was made a a little more confusing. And then in Music class, we ended up sitting next to each other and sort of saw what everyone else had been saying. Though we denied the twinning (awkward ten year old style), we soon realized that we had more than appearances in common and became fast friends.

Emily's the type of friend that is like a landmark or a monument, always there, always steady, in any weather. Come to think of it, she's like a sister, like a ten-year-late twin, except we don't have to share birthdays or rooms.

Here's to the twin I never had.

"If ever there is a tomorrow when we're not together, there is something you must always remember: you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart, I'll always be with you."