There is a photo stuck to the fridge with a chipped magnet shaped like a koala. It shows me and my best friend, Leo, on the first day of Year 5. We are both squinting into the sun, holding our lunchboxes, and wearing the same goofy grin. Mum took it just before we walked to school. I remember I was nervous because I didn't know anyone in my new class, but Leo was already there, waving from the gate. That photo has been on the fridge for over a year now, and every time I grab a drink, I see it. It's funny how a simple picture can hold so much.

The photo reminds me of the day we built a cubby house in Leo's backyard. We used old blankets and chairs, and we spent hours dragging cushions from inside. His dog, Max, kept knocking the blankets down, and we had to rebuild it three times. Leo's mum brought us lemonade and biscuits, and we sat in our wobbly fort, pretending it was a castle. I remember the way the light came through the blue blanket, making everything look underwater. That afternoon felt like it lasted forever. Looking at the photo now, I can almost taste the lemonade and feel the grass tickling my legs.

But the photo also makes me think of the hard times. Last winter, Leo's family moved to another town, three hours away. I remember the day he told me at lunch. I didn't know what to say, so I just stared at my sandwich. We promised to video call every week, and we did for a while, but then it got harder. The calls became shorter, and sometimes we missed them. I felt a knot in my stomach every time I saw his name on my phone. The photo on the fridge stayed, though. Mum never moved it. It was like a little anchor, keeping our friendship safe.

Leo's mum brought us lemonade and biscuits, and we sat in our wobbly fort, pretending it was a castle.

One evening, I was feeling really down about Leo. I had just finished a video call that felt awkward and short. I walked into the kitchen and saw the photo. For a moment, I wanted to take it down and hide it in a drawer. But instead, I stood there and really looked at it. I noticed the way Leo's hand was resting on my shoulder, and how our backpacks were almost the same colour. I remembered that we had laughed so hard that morning because my shoelace broke. The photo wasn't just a picture of a day; it was a picture of a feeling. And that feeling was still real, even if we were far apart.

Now, whenever I see the photo, I don't feel sad anymore. I feel grateful. It reminds me that friendships can change but still matter. I still text Leo sometimes, and we send each other memes. Last week, he sent me a photo of his new school, and I stuck it next to our old one on the fridge. Now there are two photos beside the fridge, side by side. They show that even when things change, the good memories stay. And every time I open the fridge for a snack, I smile. That little koala magnet holds more than paper; it holds a story that keeps growing.