𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋 𝐈𝐍 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐒𝐄

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟓

-𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐃𝐄-𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐀-

This weekend had been so busy. George, my father and I moved all my stuff into George his apartment. George went with me to some stores to get some decoration and other stuff so I could make my new room a little more mine. When it was Sunday evening we both sat down on his couch. A deep sigh ran from our mouths before we both softly laughed.

"So... finally time for food?"

"Definitely. Ordering?"

"Well my fridge is empty so I guess we don't have another option."

"Easy decision then. What do you think? I'm thinking Chinese?"

"Like you're reading my mind!"

I ordered some Chinese food while George was changing. He came back in... sweatpants? And a hoodie. I haven't worn them since forever. Hell I don't even own a pair. He plopped down on the couch again and we turned on the tv and watched the news. The doorbell rang and George was quicker to stand up. He got the food and placed it on the small saloon-table. I sat down on the floor in my dark blue pantalon and my powdered blue button down. We opened the small white plastic boxes and dag in. We both staid in a comfortable silence as the television plaid the news. When we are done eating I take all the dirty things and throw them away or place them in the dish washer in the kitchen.

"Thanks Isa."

"It's the least I could do."

I give him a soft smile which he returns. His eyes stay focused on me while I refill our glasses with water in the kitchen.

"Don't you ever get uncomfortable of your formal clothes?"

"Not really. I don't really wear anything else."

"Really? Not even at home?"

"Not even at home. My mother..."

I fall silent thinking about what I wanted to say. Maybe it's a little early to tell George about my childhood with that so called mother of mine.

"You can tell me Isa... you know I've known your parents for a while right..."

"True. Well she always said to me that if I ever were to wear anything that didn't look elegant or formal I would be considered a disgrace. That thought was the same one Chris had. He also kind of... forbid me to wear anything comfortable like sweatpants, a hoodie, you know..."

"So you've never had sweatpants on in your life?!"

"I have. I used to have this friend when I was younger... always when I slept over her parents and her promised to keep silent."

"Used to have huh?"

"Yeah... she died. She had a heart condition which made it impossible for her to be any age over 18. She died when we were 16. We would have turned 17 the month after. Wanted to throw a huge party together. She loved huge parties and dressing up... her dream to be a successful lawyer one day... but she never got to reach that."

"Is that why you became a lawyer...?"

His voice is soft as I sat down on the couch next to him. My index finger slowly circling the rim of my glass as I looked at it closely like it's the most interesting thing there is.

"I suppose I did. It's the main reason I think... the thing that keeps me thriving."

"What did you want to become?"

"I always dreamed of being a professional athlete but my mother wouldn't let me do many sports because she thought... well still thinks woman shouldn't do many sports. I always wanted race like you do when I was younger. Even though we have the money for it... it's a man's world. Ever since I've begged my heart out for it... I've stopped watching it for good. It's painful watching something I've wanted to do but wasn't aloud to do just because I'm a woman. Time and money weren't the problem and my mom made it very clear that if I were a boy... I would be aloud to. Maybe that's also a reason I decided to make a successful career for myself because my mom detests it..."

"Here I'm sitting thinking about how easy your life must have been while it's the opposite..."

"You can't know everything about someone with just a glance in their direction. People often forget that. I don't blame them... it's easy to judge from a first look. Everybody is guilty of judging based on somebody's looks but it's what you do with it what's important. You can't look at me and see if I've had it easy or hard and I can't see that from one look at you."

"Wise words... Isa?"

"Yes?"

"Can you tell me more about your friend?"

"Her name was Valerie. I always called her Val and she was 2 days younger than me. Our parents were friends for a while before we were born. They are the reason for us being friends in the first place. Val and I basically grew up together like sisters would. We would bicker about nothing and make up with a simple smile. Val used to be in and out of the hospital for as long as we knew. Always checking her heart and getting medications for the new stages of her disease. We were those weird kids at school. The ones that sat in the front of the class close to the teacher. We loved school and learning... mostly we loved reading books. We even had our own reading room in her house. All the books we could dream off were to be found there. It was our little piece of heaven. Val and I were like yin and yang. We filled each other's characters perfectly. We didn't have any other friends. Except all the fake friends our parents forced upon us. When we were 16 we had been planning our 17th birthday party for 3 months and then... her heart stopped. She was sleeping so it was a peaceful death I guess. 23th of may... exactly a month before my birthday. That's when they found her dead in her bed. Her parents called my parents to tell me the news. I had sobbed my heart out to my mother's disgust. Ever since... I've been on my own. To be honest... I think you're the first person since her that makes me feel like I belong in this world... that there are people who want to listen to me and spent time with me... expect for my dad of course."

I still hadn't looked up at George. He had staid silent throughout my story only a soft hum from time to time let me know he still listened to my word. I look up at him and casted in his fave was pure sadness. The emotion on his face seeped inside my veins as a tear rolled down my face.

"I think I've only now realized how lonely I have felt all these years..."

"You've been alone for 8 years Isa... it's not weird that that feels lonely. Just know you're never alone in this world again. I'll be here for you. We'll go out and make you some more friends... just 1 or 2 maybe... enough so you don't feel alone but little enough so you have enough time to spent with each of them."

"Thanks George. That's nice of you..."

(1233 words)