A solid friendship can even handle a year’s break and still resume where it took off

Hi, my name is Esther.

My friend Rena and I haven’t been arguing, really, but we’ve definitely been having heated discussions about our seminary plans for next year. Rena keeps saying she’s not sure if she wants to come to the same seminary as me, and I can’t understand it. How could she even think about going to a different seminary? We’ve been together since we were little kids. We do everything together. Why in the world would she even consider being separated next year?

Rena is my rock. She’s the person I go to if I ever need help or advice. She’s so smart, levelheaded and easygoing, and puts up with all my shenanigans. I can’t even imagine going to seminary without her. How do I convince her to come with me? I don’t really believe that I’ll have a problem getting to know the other girls, but I’d rather have her by my side anyway. There’s nothing like having your best friend with you when you’re in an unfamiliar situation.

When we talk about it, she won’t give me a real reason for why she’s considering going to a different seminary. She’s evasive and uncommunicative. And that’s really been bothering me. Is it something I’ve done? Something that she doesn’t want to talk to me about? She tells me no, and that of course I haven’t done anything, but I can sense that’s not true. She’s not telling me something, and I’m not sure how to get it out of her.

We have to finalize our sem decisions really soon and it could very likely be we’ll be going our separate ways. I’m very confused by her decision and I don’t know what to make of it. I can’t bear the thought of us not being together next year. How do I make Rena realize she’s making a huge mistake?