Story with past modals

A few years back, my friend Laura and I were thick as thieves. We shared everything, we were like sisters. Then one day, Laura got a job offer in a different city, a gig she couldn't turn down. She was excited but also kind of nervous to tell me.

When she finally mustered up the courage to spill the beans, her reaction caught me off guard. Instead of being thrilled for her, she seemed sad and worried. She talked about how much she'd miss me and how this was going to change our friendship. I didn't know what to say. At that moment, I could've lied and said I wasn't sure if I'd take the job, but I knew that wouldn't be fair or honest.

Days passed, and eventually, I accepted the job. Laura and I had a heart-to-heart. I could've avoided the conversation or distanced myself from the friendship, but I chose to confront it. I explained that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and that our friendship could survive the distance. She, on the other hand, voiced her concerns and fears. We both could've given in and called it quits on the friendship, but we decided to give it a shot.

Over the years, we've faced challenges in our friendship because of the distance, but we've also learned to appreciate each other more. We could've lost the friendship right then and there, but instead, we chose to confront the reality of separation together and work on strengthening our bond. Today, even though we live in different places, we're still close friends and each other's unwavering support.