Tainted Pages

An Understanding

I sat on the bench staring at them from afar. He was sitting in the grass with his arm draped around her neck. They were having a picnic and watching the sunset.

I remember when he took me to this exact spot. We hung out for hours. Just me and him no one else. I fed him some of my sandwich and he got whipped cream on the tip of his nose. He looked so cute trying to wipe it off.

Now I had to watch him hang out with another girl.

I sighed.

"Why must life be so hard?"

But I reminded myself,

"She's gonna make him happy. She will hug him. She will comfort him at his lowest. She will kiss him. She will compliment him. She will buy him gifts. She will send him cute videos. She will meet his parents. She will treat him better than I do. She will love him more than I ever could. Not me. Not anymore."

I hated that I still loved him. I hated that I missed him. I hated that he could move on so easily, but I couldn't hate him for finding happiness. It was his and I refused to ruin that.

"So why are you still sitting here?"

I asked myself.

With that I hoisted myself up and walked away. I bumped into someone accidentally and apologized.

"Oh! I'm so sorry-"

"No, it's my fault. I wasn't paying attention." They said, stifling a sob.

Were they crying?

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked.

They broke down. I sat them down on the bench and listened to their tale of woe.

"I don't understand. I tried so hard but she's gone now. She's over me. This is it. We're over."

I wiped his tears away.

"Don't worry, I'll be here to dry your tears." I told him.

He chuckled and hugged me. I hugged him back. I looked up at my ex wondering what he was doing. He was kissing his new girlfriend now, but for some reason there was no longer a large pit in my stomach anymore. No lingering feelings, nothing, just happiness.

"I think soon, I'll be over you too."

I smiled and there I sat, hugging my new friend and my best companion.