Coming home...

Annabeth lay on her bed, devastated. Her life was in shreds. She had, without any warning, lost her job. Her friends had deserted her. She had barely enough money to make ends meet. She felt like life had no purpose left.
Annabeth felt utterly, absolutely alone.
How had this happened? Only a week back, she had an amazing job, popular friends, money to burn, and the most fun she'd ever had. Her life had been a whirlwind of parties, work and constant enjoyment. All of a sudden, it felt gray and hopeless, with no prospect of any colour returning to it. Her "friends" had apparently already forgotten her, or pretended not to know her when she passed them on the street.
Unbidden, a long ago almost-forgotten memory flashed into her mind.. That of two girls laughing together at a silly movie, poking fun at almost every line. Annabeth smiled.. Her best friend Hermione, back in London. Such happy times they'd had together.. Teasing each other, laughing at inside jokes, crying on each others' shoulders..... All the memories suddenly rushed back.
Annabeth and Elizabeth had grown up together in London. They lived next door to each other, and became best friends from the age of six. They were complete opposites in looks and character...
Annabeth was a vivacious and pretty blonde, always laughing at something. She was very outgoing and extremely friendly to everyone she met, and in consequence was one of the most popular girls in school. Annabeth was, at times, a little thoughtless, but no one could resist her big blue pleading eyes, and the obvious sincerity in her manner. She was very impulsive, and often rushed into trouble without thinking, especially if it meant protecting those she loved.
Hermione, in contrast, was a cool and quiet brunette. She was not as good looking and popular as Annabeth was, but she made up for it in sweetness. She never refused anyone who asked her help, and was very gentle with those who needed it. Her juniors adored her. Hermione also had an extremely strong sense of justice and a will of steel. She could not see anyone being treated unfairly, and was always the first to stand up in defence of them. Her calm but firm voice always had the desired effect, and few people argued with her.
These two girls were poles apart, but fit like no one else could, or did. Annabeth livened up Hermione's life and made her laugh. Hermione quelled Annabeth's too-impulsive pursuits and always pulled her out of scrapes.
They were best friends in every sense of the word. They did everything together, from playing together in their childhood, to sharing secrets as they grew older and crying on each others' shoulders.. They formed a bond which nobody or nothing could break, and knew absolutely everything about each other. Everyone and everything else was relegated to second place.
When they were eighteen, they faced the first real tragedy: Hermione's father died because of a heart attack. Hermione had a lot to do, with taking care of her mother, and dealing with her own grief. Her father had been everything to her, her mentor, teacher and biggest encouragement. Losing him was a terrible blow. Annabeth was her rock during this time. She stayed at their house, and helped Hermione with all the arrangements which had to be made, besides holding her hand during the funeral. Hermione would have broken down without her support.
Because of Annabeth, she recovered soon, and was even able to laugh after a while. Hermione was extremely grateful to her friend for being there, and realized how lucky she was to have Annabeth in her life. When she mentioned this to her, Annabeth waved it off saying “This is what friends are for! If you’d been in my place, you would have done the same!”
Time passed. Both of them grew up, and the bond between them only grew stronger. Annabeth became an assistant publisher in one of the big firms in town, while Hermione became an English professor at the local college.  Both were extremely well suited to the careers they’d chosen. It seemed like life was perfect, and they could go on like this forever.
How wrong they were!
One day, Annabeth came to Hermione in a whirl of excitement. She’d got an excellent offer from a publishing firm in New York. Hermione, after hearing the news, was equally thrilled, and at once started encouraging her friend to go ahead and grab the opportunity. Annabeth was, at first, a little hesitant about accepting it, as it would mean separation from her family and friends. Hermione reminded her that opportunities like this don’t come every one’s way, and of course she had to go!!
Annabeth saw the wisdom of her arguments, and finally agreed. Then came the excitement of planning, packing, and getting ready for New York. They finally got Annabeth ready to go in two weeks. Then came the day all of them had been dreading, the day, Annabeth had to leave.
She had an emotional parting with her family at home, making several promises to keep in touch, and come to visit as soon as possible. Hermione then came to drop her to the airport. They both said little on the drive, each not feeling the need to talk. They were so attuned to each other that they didn’t need words to say what they felt.
Then, they reached the departure gate. They both hugged tight, each trying hard not to burst into tears. Finally, the goodbyes had to be said. Annabeth said “You’re the one person I love the most, and I want you to know, that I’ll never forget you. You’ll always, always be my best friend, and there’s no one who can replace you. Remember that, I’ll be there whenever you need me.” Hermione said “You’ll never be alone as long as I’m here. Just say the word, and I’ll be there before you know it.” They held hands till the last possible moment.


When Annabeth landed in New York, she stepped into a new world. Skyscrapers, glamorous stores, colours and sound everywhere. People always seemed to be moving in a hurry, as if they simply had to get to their destination before everyone else. She was met at the airport by a colleague at the firm she was to work in, and was taken a huge apartment, which overlooked Central Park. Annabeth was speechless. She was just taking in all the sights, and her new home, not quite able to believe that all this was real, or just part of a dream.
She immediately called Hermione, and spent an hour describing everything to her. She was beyond excited, that she was going to be part of such a magical city.  Annabeth couldn’t wait to start her new life!!
On her first day of work, she went to her office, a little apprehensive about the place and the people she would be exposed to. She followed the directions she’d been given, and when she finally reached, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Where she had been expecting a professional looking office, with a quiet air of dignity, and a hushed atmosphere, she found an open loft, with posters of authors and musicians all over the walls, and a party atmosphere. People were calling out to each other, joking loudly, and generally appeared to be having the time of their lives. No workstations and serious looking people tapping away on their computers.
They gave Annabeth a cheerful and loud welcome, and immediately put her at ease. They were so friendly and laid back, that soon, Annabeth began to feel like she had always belonged there. At first, she was a little shocked at the amount of time they spent in having fun, as every day they seemed to be out on two hour lunch breaks, shopping trips, planning road trips, parties.. Their main focus was to have a good time.   
Annabeth soon got used to it, and because of her outgoing nature, became a popular figure in the group. She insensibly started spending more money than she had, buying expensive clothes, throwing frequent parties in her apartment, clubbing… The glamourous lifestyle had completely turned her head, and all sense had flown straight out the window.
She started losing touch with people from home, and even if she did call, talked for a bare five minutes before rushing off again. She started picking petty fights with them, for no reason. Hermione became the main victim. She was genuinely concerned for Annabeth, and was alarmed at how much she seemed to be spending, especially as it was beyond what she could really afford. Hermione tried reasoning with Annabeth, but in vain.
At last, one day, they had a particularly ugly fight. Annabeth accused Hermione of being jealous of her lifestyle and friends. She thought Hermione was afraid of being replaced, and was being overly and unreasonably possessive. Hermione at first tried to reason with her, but Annabeth started turning nasty. Hermione’s temper, when roused could become terrible too, and she finally said that she washed her hands off the whole affair, calling Annabeth irresponsible, unreasonable and mindless. Both then declared they never wanted to see each other ever again.
So blinded had Annabeth become, she had alienated the one person who cared for her the most.
She did experience a twinge of conscience after the fight, and considered calling back, and trying to talk to Hermione again. After all, Hermione hadn’t meant any harm. But her friends appeared at that moment, calling her to get ready for a party, and the whole affair washed out of Annabeth’s mind.
Thus, life went on for Annabeth. Her job did not demand much work or application of mind, and after a while, the daily fun and parties began to take a toll on her. She began to experience a vague dissatisfaction, but would not admit to it to anyone. Annabeth also experienced a slight shock, when she saw the bills which had begun to pile up. Suits from Gucci and Armani, accessories from Bloomingdale’s and Zara’s, shoes, bags .. Heavens, had she really spent so much so quickly? But she quieted her conscience, by assuring herself that her next month’s salary would more than cover everything.
After a few months, she started hearing disturbing whispers at work. Whispers about a possible takeover, and layoffs. She was a little alarmed at first, but soon dismissed them as rumours. She never, for one second, thought that her job may be in jeopardy. Two weeks went by, and she felt more and more secure that nothing bad would happen.
Then, out of the blue, the unthinkable happened. One day, her boss called her to his cabin. She went, without suspecting anything was wrong. He told her in the kindest possible words, , but firmly, that she would have to go, and immediately. He told her about the takeover, by a huge conglomerate, and how half the employees have been asked to leave.
To Annabeth, all this was simply a buzz in her ears. The only thing her mind could register was.. She. Had. Lost. Her. Job. She left the cabin in a daze, still not able to take the news in. It was several minutes before she registered that one of her friends was speaking to her. She shook her head and asked “What?” She seemed to be talking about a road trip. Annabeth could not believe her ears. Here, her world was crashing, and all her friends seemed to be thinking about was some road trip. Just because their jobs were safe, they didn’t have the sensitivity or concern to see that others hadn’t been that lucky.
She walked out of the office, still in shock. No one even bothered to say a goodbye, or to look in her direction. Friendship, true friendship simply did not exist in their world. People came and went. Attachments weren’t worth forming.
She reached her apartment. Suddenly, the house she had taken for granted seemed all important, when she considered that she might have to leave it soon. She couldn’t even consider the possibility of being homeless, of not having a roof above her head. She lay on her bed, in a hopeless state of mind, trying to think of some way out, anything that could even help her survive. This was a far cry from someone who, only the week before, had been entertaining on a big scale every week!
Annabeth felt utterly, absolutely alone.
She suddenly missed her home life intensely. Most of all, Hermione. Annabeth’s heart ached when she relived all the memories which she had shared, with her one true friend. Most of all, she hurt when she remembered the vicious, petty things she had said to Hermione, when she had only been trying to help. More, she had been proved right, hadn’t she?
Annabeth picked up the phone and dialed Hermione’s number, hesitated, and then cut it off. Again, dialed, and just as the phone began to ring, cut it off. She did it three or four times, and then, finally got courage, and let it ring.
She heard three rings, and then a voice saying “Hello”. Annabeth nearly burst into tears at the sound of the sweet, clear, familiar voice. She couldn’t speak for a few seconds. Then Hermione asked “Annabeth?” She couldn’t help it then, she started crying. She then started apologizing again and again, saying that she’d been selfish and horrible to say all those things to Hermione, when she knew that she hadn’t meant any harm, or had been jealous and insecure.  Hermione just listened patiently until all her words gave out. After Annabeth got everything off her chest, Hermione told her that there had never been anything to worry about, and “friends never do hold grudges, especially for silly things”. Her uncomplicated sweetness just sent Annabeth into tears again, but she also felt like a great weight had been taken off her chest.
Annabeth then told Hermione all about spending more money than she ought, making friends with the wrong type of people, and finally losing her job. Hermione listened patiently, and sympathetically, and gave Annabeth some sensible and wise advice. Annabeth did not feel quite so lonely and hopeless after this. Just talking to her best friend had lifted her spirits so much, she felt ready to try anything and everything.
But the best surprise of all was to come after two days. In the afternoon, Annabeth was sitting at a desk, researching jobs, when she heard a knock at the door. Thinking it to be the postman, she went to open the door. When she did, she simply couldn’t believe her eyes. She suddenly felt light headed, like she was about to faint. Gathering courage, she reached out slowly, and clutched at her visitor’s hand, like she was making sure it was real. The visitor held out her arms, and pulled Annabeth into a hug. It was! It really was Hermione!
Both clung to each other, laughing and crying at once. Annabeth still couldn’t believe it, that the person she was most longing to see, was really there, in front of her. There were no words needed between them. They knew each other too well for that.
Annabeth and Hermione finally felt like they’d come home.