ᴇᴄʜᴏᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ

Chapter 13: The Weight of Words

Later that Day

The rest of the day felt like a blur. I barely paid attention in class, my mind replaying the argument with Sarah over and over. I couldn't believe how badly it had escalated—and now, she wasn't even talking to me.

When the day finally ended, Nya, Avy, and I walked to the car in silence. Avy glanced at me, her eyes filled with concern.

"You okay?" she asked softly.

I shrugged, not trusting my voice. But the truth was, I wasn't okay. I didn't know if things between Sarah and me could ever go back to the way they were.

Flashback

It was almost a year ago, during auditions for the school choir, when everything started to change. I remember watching as Sarah and Natasha stood side by side, their laughter ringing out as they prepared to sing their duet. When the results were announced, I was ecstatic to hear Sarah had made it, but when I saw Natasha's name alongside hers, my heart sank.

While I was left on the sidelines, Sarah and Natasha quickly became inseparable. They spent every free moment together, rehearsing for performances, laughing at inside jokes, and sharing late-night study sessions. Each day, it felt like Sarah was drifting further away from me, and it hurt more than I wanted to admit.

One afternoon, I could take it no longer. I stormed over to Sarah as she and Natasha were laughing at a text. "Hey, can we talk for a second?" I asked, trying to keep my tone calm.

Sarah looked up, her smile faltering. "Sure, what's up?"

"Look, I know you and Natasha are getting close, but I feel like I'm losing you," I said, my voice cracking slightly. "We used to do everything together. Now it feels like I'm just... here."

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Come on, Izu. You're being dramatic. Just because I'm spending time with Natasha doesn't mean I don't want to hang out with you."

"But it does mean that, doesn't it?" I pressed. "I'm happy for you, I really am, but it's like you've forgotten about me. I didn't even make the choir! And now I have to watch you two be all best friends while I'm sitting here feeling left out."

"I can't control who I become friends with!" she snapped, her frustration clear. "It's not my fault you didn't make it. You should just support me instead of acting like this."

"Support you? By watching you and Natasha be all buddy-buddy while I'm left out? That's not fair!" I shot back, my anger boiling over. "You're acting like I'm being selfish for wanting to spend time with my best friend!"

Sarah crossed her arms, her expression hardening. "You think I want to ditch you? You're making this all about you when it should be about celebrating what I'm doing. It's like you don't want me to be happy unless you're the center of attention."

"That's not true! I just don't want to feel like I'm being replaced," I shouted, my heart pounding. "You're changing, Sarah, and I don't know how to handle it!"

"I'm not the one changing! Maybe you should take a good look at yourself!" she yelled, her voice echoing in the empty hallway. "You're being petty, and it's really annoying!"

"Petty? I'm just trying to tell you how I feel! But you don't care, do you?" I said, my voice trembling with hurt.

"Honestly? Right now, it feels like you're just jealous! If you can't be happy for me, maybe we shouldn't be friends anymore!" Sarah's words hit me like a slap, and for a moment, I was speechless.

"Maybe we shouldn't," I spat back, feeling a mixture of pain and anger.

With that, we stood there in silence, the weight of our words hanging heavily between us. Sarah turned away, her shoulders tense, and I felt the familiar ache of loss settle deep in my chest.

Back to Present Day

Now, standing in the parking lot with Nya and Avy, that familiar feeling washed over me again, a sinking realization that we were headed down the same path. It hit me hard, a wave of emotions crashing over me as I recalled that fateful day.

I didn't want to lose Sarah again, but I felt the distance growing between us, like a wall I couldn't break down. It felt wrong...