"You didn' t mean to do it, " he said softly. "But if anyone wants to know, that's what happened." With that, he squeezed my shoulder to comfort me and I was left to wallow in my guilt. I focused my eyes on my old sneakers, my thoughts increasing in volume. I didn't mean to do it. I felt my hands shake with fear as the weight of reality dropped onto my fragile shoulders. I couldn't keep this secret forever. Most siblings argue but here I was, lucky to have a brother that would actually cover for me. However, I couldn't bare the thought of what Dad would do when he found out that his most prized possession had been destroyed--Mom's glass vase. How foolish of me to think that it would be okay to run around inside the house. I was terrified but not for myself, for George. My anxiety grew with the thought of Dad's reaction. He would explode. I know he missed Mom, we all did. George laid out a plan: He was going to take full responsibility. The dog had gotten in through the back door on accident. It was his fault the door was open. The dog had run around in distress, bumping into tables and of course, the table with the vase tumbled to the ground. I wanted to open my mouth, to emit words and tell him, "No. You don't have to cover for me. I'll deal with it." But the words shriveled up in my mouth. I nodded and squeezed George. Surprised by my affection, he froze but eventually relaxed. He patted my head. "It'll be okay." His voice cracked. If I had seen his eyes, I knew they would have been wide with fear. And at that moment, the front door swung open and in stumbled Dad. I squeezed my eyes shut.
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One humid day in July, Leah heard rumbling. The large U-Haul trucks parked outside indicated a new neighbor. From the comfort of her bedroom window, Leah watched the family unpack their lives into the brick house adjacent to hers. She watched a man and his daughter push boxes through the front door. Rushing down the stairs, Leah made herself useful and offered to help. On a wheelbarrow, she placed a jar of cookies and a few cups of lemonade. Quickly and carefully, she wheeled them out to her new neighbors. There she met Cassie, a girl that hid behind her bangs. Cassie's eyes focused on her feet as she hid behind the legs of her father. Reaching out, Leah gestured towards the cookie in her hand. Hesitantly, little Cassie accepted and took a small bite. At once they clicked and giggled as they struggled to move the massive boxes into the house. After hours of lifting and dropping, the girls bonded over their snacks in a wheelbarrow. That day sparked the beginning of a long friendship. The girls became best friends. Cassie had once been a shy girl but Leah brought out the best in her. Over the years, the girls grew confident and stuck by each other's side. However, during freshman year, they experienced a shift. Cassie was different. High school was a new beginning. It was an age for maturity. Taking advantage of this, Leah joined many clubs and formed new friendships. Cassie, however, stayed put. She watched as her best friend grew closer to others. Truthfully, she couldn't stand it. Leah shortly noticed the change in Cassie's personality. Suddenly, the girl that knew her every secret grew quieter. Cassie was over it. She hated the distance she was feeling.
"It was so funny, you should've seen Anna's face!" Leah laughed, recalling what happened during lunch. Cassie's face stayed expressionless. Noticing her behavior, Leah awkwardly stopped. "So...you're friends with Anna now?" Cassie asked, her dark eyes focused on her shoes. Leah's eyebrows furrowed. "I mean...yeah." She watched Cassie's face. "...Is that a problem or something?" "I'm not jealous. Chill out." "I never said you were?" The girls sat in silence for a few seconds. "Am I not allowed to have other friends?" Cassie rolled her eyes. "I thought we were best friends but you're suddenly best friends with everyone else!" Leah's blood began to boil. "Cassie, we are best friends. I just have other friends now too, alright?" "You're different now, Leah. You've...changed. I've got to go." Cassie stood, swinging her bag onto her shoulder. "Whoa whoa, let's talk about thi--" "Save it." And with that, Cassie Smith walked away, leaving Leah speechless. The next week was spent with Leah trying to reach out to her best friend and neighbor. Texts were left on read. The curtains were kept drawn. Conversations was avoided. No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow. |
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