This is short about friendship.
We were supposed to be friends like before — before she’d gotten serious about dating. It was apparent we wouldn’t be best friends anymore. It was hard being best friends with a girl, especially if you’re a guy. Everyone thought we were together. It didn’t matter that Claire already had a boyfriend —seeing us together was enough. It was annoying.
Claire rang the doorbell. We were going to talk face-to-face after months of texting back and forth. It had to be something big like the bf.
Claire was in a trench and jeans. Pulling her inside, I got us a bottle of wine like she’d wanted. I’d always thought her bf, Adam wasn’t good enough for her.
“Adam is remote. I have no idea what he’s thinking. The sex is great, but that’s not everything. Something is missing.”
That was a touchy spot for Claire, not getting what she wanted — wondering if it meant something.
“I don’t know what it means. He shut me out.” Her eyes were wet.
It made me angry. Why are you hurting Claire like this, Adam?
Claire kneaded her eyes and tried to smile for me. That hurt, like she stabbed me. I didn’t want her acting for me like every other man. I went and sat next to her.
“Claire. You don’t have to bottle everything up to protect me. I’m your friend. Nothing you do could hurt me.”
She looked at me with a sad smile. I put my arm around her. Claire sobbed. I kissed her hair, whispering the words she needed. Her tears quit, and she looked at me. Sadness was there, but the dread was gone. In moments like that, I wanted to kiss Claire like the world depended on it, but I wanted her friendship more than her body.
GK
Girish Karthikeyan 