When I still lived in Vietnam, I had a friend who knew everything I felt. She knew my weakness and the problems I've been dealt. She understood my wonders and listened to my dreams. She listened to how I felt about life and love and knew what it all me. I pointed out to this friend, because she was my best friend. "Friends forever, or so I thought." Never once did I imagine myself becoming any more that best friend with Loan. It lately seems possibly the best relationships I could ever want be with the one person I not only call my girlfriend, but my best friend.

Our story started out in my grandfather's garden. Loan and I always be played together in and out of school. I would sometimes make Loan play "Chinese Chess" games with me. We usually enjoyed our games match. She did not...