PROMISE

PROLOGUE: Last Time

AMANDA

MY HEART POUNDED as l stared at his face, his gaze averted. Blood drained from my face from the magnitude of his words. At that moment l wished for my very life force to seep from my body into the air. It was surreal and a wonder how a few short and curt words could cut so deep and leave me breathless.

I opened my mouth to say something...anything but closed it when his brows furrowed.

I stared at Kyle Griffin wondering if he knew he was shattering my whole being in that instance.

"How...why...?"

I choked out the few words l could muster. He lifted his head to stare at me for a few minutes and l saw his features harden. I swallowed hard. Twice.

"Because l want to."

He shot at me. My best friend. The guy who had owned my heart from the minute l knew what love was. The very same guy who told me l was one of the most important people in his life.

"Is it something l did...did l do something wrong Kyle? My dad. Did he perhaps threaten you?" That had to be it. Otherwise Kyle would never say all those things to me. I knew it from the bottom of my heart.

Although he was sometimes rude and gruff, he was an honest and loving man. Those were some of the reasons l fell in love with him. Because he showed me how much he loved me even if it was only friendship from his side. It stopped being like that for me long ago.

Somehow l had convinced myself he felt the same way. The sparkle he had in his eyes when he saw me couldn't be faked. Even the smile that always graced his lips in my presence was missing.

It felt...wrong. Everything about the situation was wrong.

With a six year old difference between us, Kyle had always seen me as more of a little sister, much to my dismay. His behaviour changed when l turned sixteen. Not in a bad way because Kyle was never like that. I had hoped that maybe he would see me as more than a friend when l turned eighteen.

I thought the love I had for him would be enough. It seemed l was wrong. Otherwise he wouldn't be cutting me off from his life.

"No your dad didn't say anything to me. This is my decision Amanda. We both knew our friendship was... inappropriate. I'm twenty four for Christ's sake. I will be starting my career soon and you've barely even finished high school." He emphasized high school like it tasted sour on his tongue. It hurt.

"I'm eighteen Kyle."

I shouted as if it would make a difference.

"Exactly. That's what l'm saying Amanda. You're a child in so many ways." I had lost him. Arguing was mostly pointless. I was aware of that fact but giving up had never been my strong suit.

Kyle had just finished university and his family threw him a celebratory party as well as a farewell since he was moving away to start his career in medicine. I had sneaked into his room to profess my feelings for him. I had been prepared to put everything on the line but he wasn't even willing to try.

Tears prickled behind my eyelids and l blinked them away only for them to stream down my face. He closed his eyes as if that would stop them from falling. How could he be so impassive at a time like this?

"I thought you didn't see me as one. You told me this just yesterday." I wondered what had changed during that short time. Everything hurt. My heart was shattered and so was my self respect. All l wanted to do was fall at his feet and beg him not to leave me.

"Well it seems l lied."

I laughed, bitterness dripping from my words.

"You never lie Kyle. Which is ironic since you are literally lying through your teeth right now."

How could he not care he was breaking my heart?

"Take it in whatever way you want. I don't really care. I said whatever l wanted to say. Now l am going to go downstairs and pretend this conversation never happened." He moved around me to get to the door and l grabbed his arm halting him in his tracks.

"Please Kyle don't do this to me. Whatever it is that's making you say those things, we can work it out. You want space? Fine you will have that anyway. I mean you are leaving tomorrow but please don't cut me out of your life completely."

I was embarrassing myself but l didnt care.

He just told me he didn't want me in his life anymore. That from that day onwards we had no relationship whatsoever. This was important. He was more important. For a moment he looked torn as he grabbed my hand to slowly push it away.

"It's for the best trust me. One day you will realise l did this for you." Suddenly he pulled me into his arms and dropped a chaste kiss on my cheek before leaving me shaking with sobs in his room.

"I..."

I started to say but he was already gone.

"...love you."

I whispered the words before soul wrenching sobs erupted from my chest and l fell into a heap on the floor. Everything good l felt for him slowly melted away with the tears staining my face.

I stayed like that, screaming my heart out while our families and neighbors enjoyed the party downstairs none the wiser.

Miserable and heartbroken didn't even begin to describe how l felt in that moment. I had to sneak out of his bedroom window to avoid having to explain to anyone why l was heaving like an animal. I ran the rest of the way home that night leaving behind my heart and my reason for my existence.

That very night marked a change in me that took years to accept. Kyle Griffin had broken my heart but l hoped he would never break my soul.

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COPYWRITE STATEMENT

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead or actual events is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved

This story is published subject to the condition that it shall not be reproduced or retransmitted in whole or in part, in any manner, without the written consent of the owner. Any infringement of this is a violation of the copyright law.

All rights reserved L.Z. SIZIBA©™ 2023

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Hello. Thank you for reading my story. This is my first one here, how lucky I am to share this with all of you. I don't know what I am doing. So please be kind and vote as well as comment.

20 March 2023