Yup, I can tell that this story is based on real life, because the details are so vivid.
"But I stopped at the last verse, finding I couldn’t go on. My throat was getting unbearably tight."
I love these two lines, so filled with emotions.

This is so bittersweet, and even more touching because I can relate so well to it -- I moved only a couple years ago over 10 miles away from all the people I'd grown up with and was very close to. Reading the ending brought a tear to my eye. And the opening about graduating the 9th grade -- That was only last year for me! Wow. This is brilliant. You know just the right words that reach out to someone. I like.

Great work!

It was a really well written piece. You held my attention throughout the whole thing, always a plus. No glaring grammatical errors are also a plus and a somewhat rarity. I hope you keep writing!!