Our hill was covered with thick fragrant grass,the kind found in popular gardening magazines. In spring it was a vivid blue green color which sparkled in the sun and shimmered in the moonlight. As summer came, small Buttercups, Clovers and Queen Anne's Lace, sprouted and waved in the lazy breeze. Fall came and the hill's color changed to the deepest forest green. Winter brought snow and tiny brave sprouts who poked their heads threw to warm in the meager winter sunlight. No matter what time of year, it was a truly breath takingly beautiful feat of nature.

The hill was our place to go to talk, think or cry together. This night,just as in the past, we sat there quietly, just the two of us.

It had always been my favorite spot because at night it looked as if you could stand on your toes and touch the stars. Tonight there was a difference in the air. We weren't small children anymore, we were adults. Just that afternoon, at our college graduation, we had officially cast off our childhood and stepped bravely into our future. We were ready to conquer the world, make the universe a better place to live in.

This was our special celebration, so we chose the one place which we would both remember for the rest of our lives. The place where we had first met as small children. The place where we shared our first kiss, told our first secret and where our friendship had blossomed. As children we played there, as teenagers we discovered the differences between us and as young adults we solved the problems of our world. Today we boldly faced reality and put aside all our childish dreams.

As I lay there next to him, I studied his face as I had so often done in the past. I knew every line and feature better than I knew my own. I realized that even in the future, I would be able to call to memory his strong features and feel my heart leap with excitement.

I turned back to look at the stars. The sky was wonderfully clear and you could see for miles. Every star seemed to be out that night, sitting in the sky, watching, as if waiting from something to happen.

He leaned over just then and poked me in the side with his index finger. I startled from my thoughts and giggled lightly. He laughed then looked back up at the sky.

"Have you ever wondered if there was someone up there?" I asked him dreamily.

"Hmmmm," came his reply.

"I'm serious. I mean, wouldn't it be wonderful if there really was someone out there? Maybe we'll be the ones to find out. Maybe it will be during our lifetimes that they'll contact us, or we'll contact them." I glanced at him to see if he was listening. His gaze didn't stray from the sky, but I could see he was paying attention.

"I wonder if they would be friendly? I think they would and I don't think they would be little green people with big eyes. I think they would look a lot like you and me."

I continued to stare up at the stars for a few more minutes, then finally turned, smiling to look at him. I had expected to see a grin on his face after the nonsense I'd just been spouting. That wasn't what I saw as I turned, for he was gone.

At first I thought he had gotten up to stretch his legs without me hearing him. As time passed though, I became more and more worried. I stood up and shouted out for him. The only answer I received was the echo of my shouts.

I shouted one last time before going back to the cars to check for him there. This time there was no echo, but rather a faint whisper of a voice as if from far away.

"I love you...I'll never forget you...Goodbye..."

I thought I had gone crazy or had dreamed it. I slid to the ground and sat for a moment. Out of the corner of my eye I caught a movement and turned quickly. A particularly bright star seemed to become even brighter, wink then shoot away into blackness. I raised my hand to my cheek and felt a tear sliding down.

I had just said good bye to the one true friend I had and something deep inside me told me I'd seen him for the last time. Or had I?