ILLUSIONS IV
Hi there ! We present this week's 4th chapter of Illusions.... You can find the previous chapter here ....And now, this week's chapter...happy reading!
CHAPTER 4 - THE PARTING
Throughout her accident and recovery she hadn't even heard from her. The girl didn't pick her calls or even reply her texts. Their relationship had become strained some weeks before The incident.
That's what they all chose to call it now. The incident.
Back to the issue at hand.
Before that she picked her calls only when she felt like it and just replied her texts with short quick answers, almost as if she didn't want to talk, which made Grid feel like a bother.
Grid was always the one who called or texted. Esmeralda never did. If Grid didn't call to find out how Esme was doing, Esme didn't bother. Grid had even gone a week without getting in touch with Esme and when she finally did, Esme behaved as if everything was alright and didn't even ask about her welfare.
They spent less and less time together and Esme's excuse was always that, she had been busy. Esme could feel herself losing her best friend and it was the worst feeling ever but she was so helpless. It was almost as if she had done something wrong but wasn't being told what, and it was extremely frustrating.
She tossed the phone on the bed and hugged her pillow very tightly.
Even though Esme treated her like she didn't matter anymore, she still loved her and missed her terribly. She begun to wonder if this was another case of 'familiarity breeds contempt'.
It had begun to feel that way to her anyway. She sighed sadly as she walked to the bathroom and run a hot bath.
Four weeks after the incident, Esme walked into Grid's room after a she had had a major quarrel with her mum and had left home.
Grid was reading one of her favourite novels when Esme suddenly walked in. More like stormed in.
'You wouldn't believe my mum,' she started. 'She practically forbade me from hanging out with Ernie. Can you imagine that? Just because we spent the night together at his place after a late night party. I mean, nothing happened and it was too late to come home anyway. I just had to stay over, right?'
Grid didn't even realise she was done.
'Grid!' she practically screamed at her. She looked at Grid with a look that said, 'I'm waiting for an answer.'
The cheek of it. Grid nearly hit her across the face. What was even wrong with Esme? Bursting into her room like that after more than four weeks of silence. Who does that? And as usual, thinking of herself.
Grid stared at her in disbelieve and rolled her eyes.
'Oh were you talking to me? I didn't realise.'
She returned to her book.
'Grid, how....,' Grid didn't even let Esme end her statement.
'Yeah, hi to you to Esme. I'm doing wonderful, just in case you didn't notice and how are you?
Grid stared at her with an ironic smile. Looking at her standing there, and acting as if Grid was the one Esme couldn't believe, Grid couldn't believe Esme. She had had it, and even before Grid realised it, she found herself telling Esme exactly what was on her mind.
'You know what, Esme, i have had it with this attitude of yours and don't even think of pretending like you have no idea about what I'm talking about, because we both know you do.' Grid was shaking visibly now. Esme knew Grid well enough to know to keep silent. Grid seldom got angry and when she did, well, it was obvious now what happened.
'Esme, I expect that if you have a problem with me, you let me know. I don't know what in heavens name I've done to you, that is causing this rift between us, but I do know one thing, I don't like it one bit. It's very frustrating.'
Grid continued. 'Look, if it's my fault then I'm sorry, ok? I don't ever want to lose you and trust me lately, that fear is beginning to seem more like a reality. Esme, what did I...'
Esme cut in silently. 'You didn't do anything, Grid.'
'Then why is this happening? ' I practically screamed at her.
'If this is not my fault, then whose is it? What's causing this..this...this...I don't even know what to call it. I have loved you as I would love a sister and frankly I don't deserve this treatment from you.
'Grid sat down in a heap on the bed and placed her head in her palms. She had calmed down and begun to sob silently.
'When I said I was going to be your best friend through everything, the bad and the good, I really meant it. You know I did. And Esme, we both know that I've been that friend.
I tried to be there whenever you needed a shoulder to cry on, someone to laugh with, the hell I even cried with you sometimes.'
Grid looked up and stared at Esme. Right into her eyes.
'You also said it. BFF's right? Whatever happened to us?' It was a rhetorical question but Grid got an answer anyway.
Esme looked uncertain. 'I don't know...'
Grid shook her head. After a long period of pretence, Esme had finally admitted there was a problem. She, Grid, had long since accepted that fact and was prepared to deal with it.
Anytime she brought it up however, Esme wouldn't accept that there was even an issue to deal with, and would pretend everything was alright, after which she'd change the subject. It got frustrating. It was almost as if she was running away from something.
'Esme, look..., '
'No Grid, you listen. I really don't know how to explain this between us, I really don't. Let's just let things remain as they are and move on. Frankly, I dont know what else to do.'
There she went again. How did we deal with something when she wasn't even prepared to accept that there was a problem?
'That's the thing, Grid, you keep on thinking there's a problem when there actually isn't. It's all up in your mind.'
She was in denial. Again.
Grid looked at her sadly. 'Then how do you explain your attitude over the last few weeks? No calls, texts, hanging out, acting like I'm being a bother?'
Grid badly wanted an answer. At least just to allay her fears but looking at Esme, she knew she wasn't getting one. This was as real as it could get.
Esme was about to reply when Grid cut in.
'And don't even think of saying you've been busy. That excuse just got too old. I suggest a new one.'
Esme held back. I had hit the nail right on the head.
Esme started again. 'Well maybe if you'd stopped for a moment, you would have realised, that I was going through something, instead of being so worked up about a friendship you've not even lost.'
'Well, maybe if you'd stop behaving like there's a problem, and maybe, if you'd also just told me, we could have dealt with it together. I'm not a magician you know.'
Grid continued, 'Esme we all make mistakes, and I can't be a perfect friend no matter how hard I try.
Neither can you. But together, we can always make things work. Look, if it's me, then I'm very sorry, I just want things to go back to how they used to be.'
Esme slowly rose. 'As I said, there's nothing to apologise for.'
She thought for a moment as if making up her mind. She was sorry she had to do this but it was inevitable. Tears welled up in her eyes.
'Maybe we shouldn't call ourselves best friends anymore. I can't seem to reach your expectations, I seem to keep on disappointing you and it's frustrating for me to.
Let's just be friends now ok? That will be much easier.'
Grid was beyond shocked. She was totally lost for words.
'Esme...'
'No Grid, it's for the best.'
With that she turned to walk away.
'Do you even have any idea what happened these last few weeks?' Grid asked silently.
'You see, that's the thing, Grid , you expect too much from me, and I always seem to disappoint you. Well, the good thing is it won't happen again.'
Wow! Grid couldn't even believe her. She was supposed to be her best friend.
'What are you afraid of, Esme? What exactly don't you want to deal with?'
Esme turned to look back at Grid and smiled sadly and without a word, she closed the door gently behind her....(Chapter 5 continues here)
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