folklore

Augustine

"Augustine... I'm not mad at you. But I just want to tell you a few things. Give you peace of mind, so you don't feel guilty anymore." She said, combing her hair to her left shoulder.

"Oh?" I said quietly.

"Don't pick guys like James. You're a pretty girl and I promise you that there will be others. You don't need to settle for the first guy that everyone gives you attention." She says.

Everyone said that.

"So many people have told me that, but you don't get it Betty." I said, exasperated.

"Augustine! I'm just trying—"

"I know you mean well. But you don't know what it's like for the one guy to be into you, to ditch you after two months." I rolled my eyes.

Betty sighed, staring straight ahead, not saying anything for a bit.

"You're right. But... I do know what it was liked to be used. And then James came into my life, telling me I was amazing, and beautiful, and perfect. I got unwanted attention, just thrown around. But I was safe with him."

"I know James used me. I don't like to think about it, but I like to pretend that it was perfect and amazing, even though I know it wasn't." I said, tracing the lines on the wood planks of the porch.

Betty nods. "I get that. Even though I didn't see a future with James, I still dated him anyway. I shouldn't have."

"I get that. Any last words of wisdom for a junior? Essentially two years of high school left?"

"Don't live in the past, you can miss what's going on around you. But also don't live in the now, you'll definitely miss so much that's ahead of you. And don't live in the future, otherwise you'll leave people behind and your plans will change, and you can miss opportunities that will change your plan." She rambles.

I laugh. "So don't be me, don't be James, and don't be you?" I asked with a chuckles.

"Essentially," She giggles. "Find your happy medium." She nudges me.

"I really like you Betty. You're pretty cool, and really nice for someone who lost her boyfriend to some other girl."

She laughed. Even though we weren't really friends, I'm glad that I wasn't hated by her. I could forgive myself now. I could be okay now.