It wasn't until later that it occurred to me that it was a strange place to meet someone. I mean, not many people can say that they met their best friend at a funeral. Even so, I knew then, even though I was only eight, that Dan and I would be friends for life. You could say that even from the start

We were like one person

************************************************** *******************

"Come on. Standing here in the cold won't bring her back."

A small sniffle

"The last thing she would have wanted is to see us moping after her."

That was my mum. We were standing by My grandmothers grave.

This was her funeral

"I'll go get the car started"

That was dad. He had a small smile on his face that even I could tell was fake.

"Can I stay? I want to say goodbye on my own" that was the first time I had spoken since the funeral had started.

"You were always her favourite. Her 'special little boy'. Who's going to be your friend now? Don't think you can hang around with me and my friends"

That was Chris, my big cousin. He didn't seem to like me too much.

"Stop it Chris, this isn't the time to get on at him like this" Dad again, trying to defend me.

He took mums hand in his and placed his hand on Chris' back as he lead them both away towards the car. I just stared at the fresh grave. It really didn't look natural. It was hard to picture the woman who had been my only friend all these years buried under all that dirt. It was a weird idea. A small sigh escaped my lips as I sat down

"He's right you know. Now that you're gone, I've got no friend's. I wish you could have stayed longer…"

A few tears made their way down my cheeks as he gazed at the dirt in front of me. I gently traced two stick figures smiling happily in the dirt. A small smile formed on my own face as I looked at my picture. The smile soon disappeared

There would be no more happy times now

"It's hard, Isn't it? I mean, understanding…who was it?"

I looked up. My eyes meeting with dark brown ones. He was a boy, about the same age as me with brown slightly curly hair. He looked down at me, giving me a small smile.

"My grandmother"

It was a tiny little answer that came out. Not how I had wanted it at all. I quickly wiped my eyes as the boy slowly crouched beside me. He seemed to be observing my picture I had just drawn.

"Were you two close?"

"Closer than close" I answered, smiling softly as I reputed that phrase she has told me many times. She would always say 'we're closer than close, you and me'

"I'm sorry" the boy said with a small sympathetic smile. "I'm Dan by the way"

"I'm Phil"

I replied, flashing him a small smile. He looked at me then gently patted my shoulder

"It'll be okay, you know"

"Yeah…why are you here?" I asked shyly

"I'm visiting my family's graves. My mum, dad and brother" he replied, his smile not even faltering

Id love to be strong like him

"They all died?" I asked in a small voice, studying his face

"Yeah, at the same time in an accident"

"I'm sorry. I can't imagine what that's like"

He shrugged, removing his hand from my back "It was a while ago now" he paused, looking into my eyes "Where those people with you before your family?"

"Yeah, my parents and older cousin Chris"

"Wow, you're so lucky, a family. I'm jealous. I bet you and Chris have great fun together"

"Not really, we don't get on… He's just so popular. And I'm just…I'm not. I don't have any friends"

He looked surprised for a moment before his features returned to as they were before. He looked at the grave in front of us, looking deep in thought.

"Me too. I just never-"

"Seem too" I added

"Fit in"

We both smiled each other as we spoke at the same time. He was just like me. A lonely kid with no friends. He was perfect.

************************************************** *******************

And that was it, we were the best of friends. I couldn't believe that I found someone who was exactly like me. He was amazing. So perfect. He liked all the same things as me. Whenever I felt alone, he was there. We did everything together.

Best friends forever