Cutting The Bridge

Lucy and I met at a lesson centre. We were about to write our “O level” exams in a few months time and during that time it was very common to see some extra mural classes organized by some teachers.

Like other places where people come together, there are bound to be friendships formed and connections made.

Lucy and I started our friendship journey one day when I helped her after she fell on the way back home causing her trousers to rip at the thigh area.

I gave her my jacket and she tied it around her waist and that helped her a bit as she quickly looked for a bike that took her home.

I was surprised that she walked that day as she usually takes a bike and I do see her often because we are the only ones coming from the same direction.

She returned my jacket the next day and thanked me, which was the first time she spoke to me as she always kept to herself during lessons even though many people had extended a hand of friendship towards her which she didn't reciprocate.

As the lesson ended for the day, I picked my bag and started walking home as usual. I was a few steps away when I heard my name. I turned back to see her coming towards me. Then she surprised me by asking if it was okay for us to walk together.

We started walking together. It was awkward at first as we didn't know what to say to each other but as time went by, we began to ease into each other.

Our friendship grew and we began telling each other things about ourselves, though she only told me a few things about herself. I tried introducing her to a few acquaintances of mine but I could tell she wasn't looking to make lots of friends.

Our friendship grew and we began visiting each other. She visited me more since my house was closer. One time when I visited her parent's house, I found it was very beautiful. Her older siblings were already in school, and she was the only one at home.

Everything was going smoothly between us till the second time I visited her and met her dad at home. I greeted him and he responded but he gave me a look which I didn't understand.

She took me to her room and we sat on her bed. I took my phone and played some games on it while she went out and came back with some refreshments.

After some time, I heard her dad call her name and I could see anger formed on her face. Her name was called again and she stood up and went outside. I didn't know what ensued but I heard some raised voices and she came back hissing. I could clearly see she was angry.

I didn't know what to say other than telling her to calm down and not talk back to her dad. Then she told me he's not her dad but her stepdad.

I told her all the same. He's clearly old enough to be her dad and she's been rude talking back at him but she turned on me and told me to mind my business.

I felt hurt but I didn't want to aggravate the already tense atmosphere and just decided to keep calm.

After a while, I told her I was leaving and she bade me goodbye. On my way back home, I couldn't help but wonder what her mum was doing to the situation because it doesn't look like that was the first time she and her stepdad were having an altercation.

I mean, most of us have all thrown tantrums, grumble or sometimes frown our faces at somethings our parents did or asked us to do but all that attitude and facial expressions were done when they are not looking or else we'd get a factory resetting slap.

I thought my advice had touched her and she would change for the better but that was not the case. I went to her place again to relax one day when I heard her talking rudely to her dad and that was when I knew that I couldn't keep coming to her place.

I decided to leave her place that day and go back home as I didn't want to be caught in the middle of whatever was happening.

The home training in me groaned out in pain and couldn't bear hearing her spit hurtful words at her dad.

I quickly took my bag and turned to flee. I was at the door of the living room when she came out of the kitchen and saw me.

She told me to wait as she was almost done with cooking but I told her I can't wait a second longer. I opened the door and ran as fast as my legs could carry me.

The next time she saw me at the lesson, we locked eyes but we didn't say anything to each other and that went on for days.

A few people who knew us together asked me the reason why we're keeping each other at arm's length but I couldn't bring myself to tell them what happened because I was ashamed to be called friends with someone like that.

Now I understood the look the man gave me the first time. He must have thought we were “birds of the same feather”. I regretted the day I became friends with her and wished I could erase all of it.

Till date, the only connection we have now is on Facebook. Looking back, I don't regret my decision to call it quits with her. I am not a disrespectful person and can't be friends with one.

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