Hello all.
Gosh I'm so sorry for updating this late.
Major MAJOR writers block.
This chapter is dedicated to manasvibalu
By far the most selfless person I know.
Stay strong
~Vibha
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Irene rolled over to shut off her alarm clock which was currently screeching like a banshee.
Then she opened her eyes.
"Morning ugly." Samantha said, nearly in Samantha's face.
Irene screamed and fell off the bed.
"YOU MANIAC HOW DID YOU GET IN HERE."
"Your mum let me in." Samantha said, casually.
"YOU NEARLY GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK."
"Mm hm. Get out. We have that assembly today."
Muttering under her breath, Irene showered, put on her clothes and headed out with Samantha.
Upon reaching school, they were ushered into the gym for the assembly.
These were never very exciting, and today was no different.
The principal droned on about volunteers for the annual car wash, while Irene and Samantha quietly pigged out on Oreos.
Irene hadn't seen Peter in a few days, so she whispered to Samantha,
"How's lover boy?"
"Hush. She's talking about cleaning cars. This is important."
Irene rolled her eyes.
Once school started, it was the same monotonous schedule. They met for a while at lunch, but Irene had a project to finish.
Once the final bell for the day rang, the two girls walked out, shoulder to shoulder.
It was a cold evening as the girls made their way to the coffee shop.
"What happened to your stomach?"
Samantha said, looking at the small strip of blue black skin that was exposed.
"Hm?"
Samantha pointed to Irene's stomach.
"Oh. I thought I told you? I rammed into a bike the other day?"
"No you didn't. How on earth did you manage that?"
Irene laughed. "Well, you know me."
The entered the coffee shop and Irene had a wave of nostalgia hit her. The first time she'd been here with Christopher. All the scents. The scenes.
It was a much unwanted trip down a boulevard of her memories.
"I'm taking a vanilla latte. What do you want Irene?"
"Um I'll have a cappuccino."
She stepped forward and paid for her drink.
She went to grab a seat while Sam got the drinks.
"I got you a chocolate chip cookie."
Sam said, grinning.
"Oh what would I do without you?" Irene replied, smirking as she took the cookie.
The girls sat in silence for a while.
Then Samantha put her drink down.
"You didn't get rammed by a bike did you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know damn well what I mean Irene."
Irene sighed and put her drink down.
"Samantha I...."
"I thought we agreed Irene. No more secrets."
"It isn't about keeping it a secret."
"Then what is it about? You just don't want to tell me?"
"Samantha I didn't mean to hurt you. I was scared. I didn't know what to do."
"You should've told me! I could've helped!"
"How?"
Samantha suddenly stopped talking.
"What?" Irene asked.
"I already talked to Oliver." She said, lowering the turtle neck to show Irene a bruise.
At this point, Irene lost it.
She started weeping.
Samantha managed to get Irene up and out of the shop. Darkness had set in.
Between her sobs,
"Samantha why would you? He hurt you. I'll never forgive myself."
They sat on the pavement.
"You think I'll ever forgive myself for not realising and doing something about it earlier?"
"But why would you? You threw yourself into pain and suffering for me." Irene said, as Samantha wiped off her tears.
"It comes with being a family." Samantha said.
Irene cried so more as Samantha just held her.
"I'm so sorry Sam" She said, repeatedly.
"I can't even begin to tell you how I feel."
"Irene. You would've done the same for me. Would you have liked it if I apologised?"
Irene said nothing. Neither did Samantha after that, and the two friends just stared at the stars, as Irene thought about her selfless best friend.
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It's not easy being selfless.
In fact, it's probably one of the hardest things in this world.
That's probably the reason why there are so few selfless people in this world.
Because in the end, we all want everything good.
We want money.
We want love.
We want happiness.
But we don't want to share.
Atleast most of us don't.
The few out there who are willing to not only share, but also give up their comforts for someone else's happiness, they are treasures who need to be preserved.
And just as Irene had read, selflessness and bravery weren't all that different.
Selflessness comes from within. No one can thrust it upon you.
And being selfless does not just mean donating your old clothes to charity. Or giving a beggar some money.
Selflessness is your ability to look past your needs and at others.
In a garden full of beautiful flowers, a selfless person is one willing to prick themselves on the thorns just to get you a rose.
It's being able to listen to someone's pain even though your pain is already eating you up.
It's looking up and seeing a shooting star and wishing that someone else's wish comes true.
Selflessness is the purest form of love.
And those who embrace selflessness, are the only true lovers.
It is easy to say you're selfless and give your leftovers to a needy person.
It's not so easy to give the same food to another person when you're starving.
Selflessness is a vast and abstract word of which no one can make complete sense.
But all we can conclude, is this.
Selflessness is not the act of helping someone in need.
It's helping someone even though you're in need.
