"What is wrong, honey?" Her mum questioned after she seemed to have settled down a bit...
" mum, dad...am I a bad person?" Her question made her parents look at themselves in confusion..." No, honey...you are the sweetest and kind person in the world," her mum said and her dad just nods his head with a smile..." What's wrong? Why were you crying?" Her mum questioned and little Zoe wipes her nose..." I did something bad today mum..." little Zoe tells them as her eyes become teary again..." And what might that be, honey? you know you can talk to mum and dad about anything and we will help you fix it..." Her mum tries to ease her aching heart..." I-I hurt Rabella today..." Zoe burst into tears, it was so hard for her to think about it..." Oh, honey...I am so sorry..." her dad hugs her tightly..." what happened?" he questioned for the very first time..." We were on the field playing together and Rowan wanted to take her away from me...I tried to push her hands off his but I ended up pushing her instead...I swear I didn't mean to..." Zoe explains feeling bad for her actions..." I just wanted her to play with me and no one else..." She added that her parents could only look at her with sad faces..." she didn't even look at me and just left without a word, dad..."She is mad at me and I am scared she will never want to talk to me again..." She blurted out in tears..." Hush now honey, mum got your back..." her mum rubs on her back ever so gently..." Just apologize to her and she will accept..." her dad proposed and Zoe looks at him with hopeful eyes..." Really?" she questioned and he nodded his head ..." But what if she hates me for causing her pain?" Zoe questioned again and her dad Pat on her head..." So long as you are sincere and you know you will never do it again, she will accept your apologies" he assured, and Zoe's once sad face was filled with light again..." Then I should apologize now," she said, climbing off the sofa but her dad didn't let her..." Listen, honey, let her be for now...you can apologize to her tomorrow" a frown appears on Zoe's face...but you said I should apologize" confusion was written all over her face..." Yes I did, but you have to let her be for now...she also needs time to come to terms with what just happened today and you don't wanna push your luck, do you?" He asks and Zoe quickly shakes her head as she takes back her seat...she doesn't want to ruin her chances of being Arabella's friend again...Marcus was happy she listened to him as he looked down at her with a smile on his face. Zoe is eight years old and her friend Arabella is seven years old while Rowan is ten years old...As much as she wanted to rush out and apologize to her friend, she never wanted to ruin her chances so all she could do was sit on the couch and force herself to watch the TV with an expressionless face...She sat there without moving an inch till dusk. Her mum was finally done with the meal and served them, she didn't have an appetite to eat so she could only eat a little before going to bed...the night was young and long, she stared at the ceiling until she was consumed in her fantasy world..."Rabella, Ra" Zoe calls out in her sleep, she seems to be having a nightmare as she sweats profusely turning her head left and right...Her mum was quick to rush in as she shakes on her to wake her up while calling on her name...Zoe opens her eyes as fear hovers all over her face..." it's ok honey, mummy is here" her mother hums soothingly as she strokes on her hair. After a while of comfort, Zoe finally settled down and immediately slept off again ...It was a bright and new day for Zoe, she was determined to apologize to her friend no matter what...As soon as she was done with her bath, she ran off to Arabella's home and knock on the door...the door opens and Arabella's mum walks out, all dressed up for work..." good morning, Aunt" she greets and the lady held on her tiny cheeks wailing at her..."Good morning, Zoe...what brings you here at this early hour of the morning?" She questions and little Zoe just smiles nervously at her..."I get it, Arabella is inside...she's been sad since yesterday but I know you can make her feel better..." She encourages and little Zoe nods her head...`` Can I go now, Aunt?" Little Zoe asked..."Yes, sure..." little Zoe happily runs inside to meet her friend..." you guys be careful...see you soon," she said in a high voice because little Zoe ran off without finishing her statement..." I know you will...shit, now I am talking to myself" she faces palm herself before making her way to her car and driving off ...Little Arabella sits on her bed with a sad face, staring at the window seemingly lost in thought...she's not left her room since she woke up and nothing seems to make her happy. So many things happened the previous day after she left with Rowan but she has no one to talk to or share her joys with...the only friend that always listens and understands her to hurt her and the sadness was something she couldn't ignore...Even though she knows Zoe didn't do it intentionally but the fact that she did it is what is killing her...among everyone in this life, Zoe was the last person she's ever thought would hurt her but guess she is wrong...tears roll down her red cheek as she sat motionlessly on the bed...Zoe stood at the door and watch her with so much sadness and self-blame, seeing her like that breaks her for some unknown reason and she wish things shouldn't come to this…When Arabella notices her by the door, she turns her face in the other direction. She was still sad, and with no other choice, Zoe walked to her bedside..."Rabella?" She called out but didn't receive any response from her..."I know you are mad at me and I am sorry..." She said apologetically and still, Arabella didn't say a word and just kept on gazing in the other direction..." Please, forgive me" she continued, not being able to take her silence, it was killing her slowly..." you hurt me, Zoe," Arabella tells her in a teary tone..." I didn't mean to...it was an accident" Zoe explains..."You know I can never hurt you intentionally...you know it Rabella '' she continued..."but you did...why?" Tears roll down her cheeks as she stares at her friend with so much pain..." I didn't mean to...and I am sorry" Zoe didn't know what else to say sorry with teary eyes..." promise you will never do it again, ever?" Arabella said and Zoe nodded her head in response...she pulled her in
"Did you feel like you both were the only people in this world when he was with you?" Zoe asked and she nodded her head shyly, this left Zoe sad but seeing her friend all happy, she had no choice but to be happy with her..."What does it mean, Zoe?" Arabella questions as she stares back at her friend with eyes full of anticipation... Zoe didn't know if she should tell her or not, but at the end of her long thought, she decided to tell her..." Mama says if you are with someone and you feel like it's only both of you in the world, it means you are in love..." She explains and Arabella frowns, not understanding what she is talking about as she stares at her with a confused expression..." What is love?"Arabella questions, she was clueless about what it meant and the curiosity to know the meaning was way stronger..." Uhm, mama said love is when you always want to be close to someone" Zoe explains and this got Arabella to frown more..." But, I like spending time with you," she said...
eleven years laterZoe lies on the bed reading a book. the door opens and Arabella walks in with two cups of coffee and hands one to her..."What are you reading?" she questions taking a seat by her bedside..." Nothing important...just a book" Zoe closed the book and placed it by the side, adjusting herself to sit upright..." thought as much..." she said and drank her coffee...Zoe was quiet, she seemed to be thinking about something..."What is disturbing you, Zoe?" her soft voice pulled Zoe back to the present as she stared back at her..."Nothing," Zoe said but Arabella wasn't convinced..." I am no fool to know that something is disturbing you...come on, tell me..." she urges." I am scared, Rabella...what if I don't get chosen for the audition, what if I am not as good as they think?" she asked, opening up to all her fears. Zoe is studying music and there is a contest coming up and so many people and Schools are allowed to participate...she is good at singing but she has this sel
Zoe walks out of the bath with a towel wrapped around her chest as she dries on her soft black hair. Arabella sat on her bed, humming as she writes in a book...She was humming the song "Stay" by Rihanna ever so happily and Zoe who enjoys her melodic sound silently listens to her..."if not for your love for business, I would have dragged you to study music with me" Zoe walked to her bed and climbed on it, they had their separate beds..."Guess there's always an afterlife" She jokes..." you better be ready then, won't be sparing you, not even for a sec" they both laugh at Zoe's words..." Where to?" Arabella, who saw Zoe all dressed up in a pair of blue jeans and a shirt with her hair tied in a messy bun, was confused as to where she was going..."Ms. Patricia asked me to come over for a little discussion..." she puts on her shoes, ready to go..." don't be late, I will be waiting for you" Zoe smiles at her..." sure...see you" She takes her in for a hug before leaving. On her way to
Coming back from Ms. Patricia's house, Zoe was happy knowing she will get to spend time with Arabella. She always spent her free time with Rowan, at his place while Zoe, gets to be left behind...And every single time she tries to make her stay, Rowan always comes up with something to change her mind...She knew he was doing it on purpose, it has been like that since childhood, always fighting for her love and attention but no matter how hard she tried, he still won...He's got her love, and now he's trying to get all of her attention to himself and it seems like it is working..." What a greedy bastard" she cursed under her breath feeling irritated at the thought of Rowan...One thing she didn't understand was, why he got to be the one she chooses to love. among all the guys, why him? Why not her? She has been with her since the very beginning but she didn't choose her, she never saw her as anything older than her best friend...it saddens her but knowing she is happy, she had no choice
It's been three days now and Zoe has been avoiding Arabella for reasons unknown to Arabella and it made her sad and worried, to see her best friend not talking to her as she used to..."I don't know what is wrong... I know something is eating her up but I just can't tell what it is exactly" she has been saying quite, hoping she will come around and open things up but it seems like it's just her hopes and nothing more..." Stop stressing yourself over nothing, Zoe is old enough to handle her problems" Rowan's lazy voice rings from behind her. She is in Rowan's apartment, sitting by his bedside..." How can you say such a thing? you know how close I am with Zoe and knowing she is disturbed with no idea what's wrong makes me more frustrated, and you are telling me not to stress myself?... I mean, what's even your issue with Zoe? 'cause I don't understand anymore" She wasn't a fool not to notice the difference in his behavior every time she made mention of Zoe's name..." Nothing...I am j
Arabella walks through the school corridor heading to the hall Zoe always has her rehearsal. Taking the second door on her left, she stood by the door and watched her sing...the lyrics of the song made her eyes teary. For some reason, she could tell that something was going on but she didn't want to tell her... I tried my best to never let you in to see the truth... And I've never opened up... I have never truly loved... Till you put your arms around me and I believe... that it's easier for you to let me go...For those listening to the song, she sang it perfectly, putting all the emotions and playing with her keys but for Arabella, she could tell something was off...The crowd cheered happily. It was the first part of the competition where she had to compete with people in her school. Though she has been chosen to represent her school, Ms. Patricia wants her to be more than prepared so organizing a school competition was necessary...Gazing at the cro
" What is happening Zoe? you are not singing like you used to" Ms. Patricia complained not liking the outcome of her performance..." I am sorry Ms. Patricia...I will try again..." she apologized and started playing on the piano again but was stopped by her..." you don't have to when your mind is in a mess," she tells her..." No...I can do it...it just needed me to try more" she plays on the piano trying to prove her point..." You see, I am doing it," she said with a smile on her face..." I am ok" she continues but Ms. Patricia holds on to her hand, stopping her ..." You can't fool me, child, I will know one when I see one"..." it's good to take a day off sometimes...I know you might be tired..." she said in a decisive tone and walked to her seat. Zoe opens her mouth only to close them again, there is nothing she will tell her that will be able to change her mind..." go rest out your brain for today...tomorrow is another day" she waves her hand at her but Zoe had no intention of