Martha would tell you even now that she would have never wanted her dear friend to suffer, that it makes her smile to think of Rubena in heaven. She would tell you how grateful she is for the blessing of having a lifelong friend who, for the better part of seventy years had been a supportive, encouraging example of Christlike love.

But she would also tell you that she misses her friend every single day, that she feels lonely sometimes when she goes to the Belks and doesn't have to fun over to the dresses section to check a size for Rubena. And she would tell you that she'd give anything if they could leave the mall together and eat dinner at the Western Sizzling' one more time. 
(~Sophie Hudson, A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet, p. 17)