This evening, I had some news. A precious friend is moving away. I've had news like this many times before.

When I was 11, my friend, Lyndsey, moved away. Her family moved away with her dad's job. He was to beceome the pastor of another church, in another town. When Lyndsey and her sister, Jo, left our church and our town, I grieved. I cried before they went, I cried as they went, I cried once they'd gone. I missed the little notes that Lyndsey passed in church. I missed her lovely giggle. I missed her hugs and I missed being around her.

When I was 12, my best friend at school, Ella, moved away. Her parents decided to relocate to the countryside. I deeply grieved. I remember standing in the school hall at break time on the day after she left. I stood alone and looked around, for the first time understanding the phrase, "being alone in a crowd". I missed Ella's house and her music. I missed the times when we made up songs, and went shopping for useless bits of tat. I missed us wearing matching stripey tights and Kicker boots. Before she went, I predicted, "I'll miss your little chicken legs." I missed her...so, so much.

When I was 17, my boyfriend, Azar, moved with his parents to another country. They owned a house in the mountains of Mallorca, and had planned to move their permenantly for some time. At the end of our A'Levels, with a few friends,I drove him to the airport, hugged and kissed him goodbye, cried and watched him walk through the gate. He left. I cried.

As I heard the news of my friend's plans this evening, I immediately hurt. I do not feel pain on my own behalf. I feel pain for one of her children, and for her best friend. I have been crying since. I can feel the pain that these two friends are feeling. I know how frightened they feel. Every now and then, I suddenly feel extremely sad, remembering that they will be separated.

You see, I sat with these girls as they cried together, over an incident of bullying. I have seen them have fun together and laugh until tears run down their faces. I have seen photos of their holidays tgether and I've heard some of their "funny stories". I have had breakfast withthese girls as they discuss their favourite food, which of course is the same. I have seen these girls' friendship and sheer devotion to each other.

My heart breaks for them. I understand the loss that they will feel. I remember the feelings of loss from my own experiences and, to be honest, it still seems to hurt. It hurts right now, as I write. I wish that these lovely girls would not have to suffer in this way. Compared to the suffering of the loss I wrote about in my last entry, this may seem trivial. But, it is not. I know that these girls will cry themselves to sleep tonight, as I did. I know that these girls will deeply mourn and that they will never forget the pain.

My intention, as I made clear to both girls this evening, is to remain close and not leave them. I am committed to showing love, kindness and support to them both. Because, it hurts. They will find new friends, and they will continue to move through all of the stages of friendship. Even in their old age, they will meet other women with whom they will share so much. But, for now...they are cherishing every moment of their time together, and every moment of the most precious friendship that they have ever known.