titled.
"Silence From The Other End Of The Line"
I dialed my friends number, boy I did not want to deliver this news, she was going to be devastated but there was no changing my mind now
*Ring*Ring*Ring*….she picks up the phone, I swallow my nerves and talk
“Hey, Best friend umm, you know about that trip I’m taking to Japan?” I wait for a moment, then I hear her cheery voice.
“Oh yeah, what about it? Have you decided who you’re taking with you?” I try to avoid the question the best I can.
“Yes, yes I have.”
“Well? Who is it!?!” here comes the moment, I had to break the news.
“My cousin.” I heard a deafening silence coming from the other end of the line.
“What, are you serious? After we literally plan this whole trip, and you take your cousin?” I’ve never heard my friend use that tone before, I was in deep stuff this time.
“I know, I know, I’m sorry, but don’t worry I’ll bring you stuff back, lots of stuff.”
“That’s not good enough, I already have my bags packed, why would you do this to me a week before the trip?” What could I possibly say?
“It was short notice, I know.”
“But, why? Why are you taking her instead of me? I mean to JAPAN of all places, somewhere that you know I’ve always wanted to go?” That was true, we both have, we’ve been talking about it for ages.
“Well, it would just be easier since we’re family, I don’t have to deal with her parents worrying about her, or even spend any extra money.” This was a lie, if at anything, bringing my cousin was going to cost more money.
“That’s cold. What are you trying to say? My parents are too uptight, like yours are perfect? That I’m too expensive to tag along? So sorry that my family doesn’t have all the money in the world.” Was everything I said wrong? Obviously, just like it had always been .
“No, no, none of that, I just thought it’d be in your best interests.” People, they’ve always been accusing me of things, twisting my words, when I was just voicing my opinion, trying to make things better, making them worse. Sometimes I believe I should sew my mouth shut, that way everyone would be happy.
“Well, guess what? You thought wrong, gosh, I can’t believe you had that much nerve, I can’t even look at you right now.” I thought of a smart comeback, considering we were speaking on the phone, she couldn’t see me anyways, but I simply said…
“Sorry.” There was nothing left to say, what’s the use in reasoning with someone whose mind is as closed as a locked door, some as stubborn as a bull. Silence from the other end of the line.
