The friend I let go

I've had my own share of friendships...Godsent and earthly sent ones, lol. Some friendships I've had ended before it even began when I realized that being friends with the individuals involved was nothing but a wrong move. Some ended after a while but very few has lasted for as long as I can remember. I've ended a lot of friendships with people but I'll rather share the one that left a void in my tender heart.

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Grace was my intimate friend back in my days as a junior secondary school student. Actually, we attended the same primary school but due to the division of classes into A, B, C, we hardly crossed paths. But I knew her well enough to recognize her face anywhere. It wasn't until secondary school when we were both placed in A class that I got to know her better. She was a social butterfly while I was the quiet one who was almost always seen with a novel and my glasses resting on the bridge of my nose. We became pretty close within the twinkle of an eye and just like honey and bee, wherever you see me that's exactly where she would be as well.

I ain't gonna lie, she was a lovely being. She cared, encouraged me at my dull moments, supported and helped me in different ways both academically and otherwise. Being a sucker at mathematics, she was always willing to explain whenever I asked for it, such that I began to understand her teachings more than that of the subject teacher.

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The first term ended and we were ushered into the second , still as close as ever until the mid-term test results were circulated. She was the highest in mathematics while I topped in every other subject. The first thing I noticed was the distasteful look on her face as she skimmed through her booklet and mine comparing what I had written to hers. After what seemed like ages she looked up and sent me a deadly glare, flung my book aside and turned her attention to our form mistress who was encouraging us all to perform better.

After the teacher left the class followed by recess, I called out to Grace but she walked out of the class without sparing me a glance. After a while, I grabbed a book and made my way to the library only for someone to approach me asking why I made my best friend angry and didn't bother apologising. When I eventually got back to class, Grace started throwing all sorts of insults at me, called me a deceiver and accused me of being selfish, saying that I only wish to be the top student while she was to fall right behind me. I stood there dumbfounded wondering what led to all those accusations knowing that I usually put her through in every other subject asides maths. How was it my fault that she was exceptional in that area but struggled with the rest?

Though it didn't stop her from being acknowledged as an intelligent student nor as the second best in class. I couldn't help but think back to some weeks earlier when she emerged as the winner in a maths competition against students from 5 other schools. I had purchased a lot of gifts and decorated my class with balloons and hand-written stickers, with the help of my classmates and paraded her round the school for all to see.

I finally looked at her and knew right there and then that our friendship wasn't going to work out. If indeed I had offended her, being my friend meant that she was supposed to approach me and let me know not for me to find out through some snarky comments here and there. Most importantly, you can't claim to be my friend when you can't rejoice with me at my successes. And from that day, I kept my distance from her and I can proudly say it was an excellent decision. Yes it took me a while to relate and find another friend but I eventually did.