ᴇᴄʜᴏᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ

Chapter 14: The Distance that was between us

Izuko's pov

The weight of the day hung over me like a storm cloud, dark and suffocating. As we reached the car, Nya turned up the radio, hoping to break the silence, but it felt futile. My heart was still heavy with the echoes of the argument with Sarah, and now it felt like the past was repeating itself.

After throwing my bag into the backseat, I settled into the passenger seat, staring blankly out the window as we pulled away from campus. The scenery blurred past, but my thoughts were trapped in a loop, fixated on Sarah and everything we had been through. Was this really how it was going to end?

"Hey, Izu," Nya said, her voice cutting through my thoughts, "wanna grab some food on the way home? I hear there's a new café that just opened up."

I managed a weak smile, but it didn't reach my eyes. "I'm not really hungry."

Avy glanced over, her brows furrowing with concern. "Are you sure? You need to eat something. Maybe it'll help clear your mind."

I didn't respond. I felt bad for worrying them, but the churning emotions inside me were too turbulent to process. What if I lost Sarah for good?

As we drove in silence, my phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from Sarah. My heart raced as I opened it, but the words felt like a punch to the gut:

"I need some space. I can't deal with this right now."

My stomach dropped, and I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. Space? The word echoed in my mind, ringing with a sense of finality.

"Everything okay?" Nya asked, her voice laced with concern.

I tried to keep my voice steady as I replied, "Yeah, just... Sarah needs some space."

Avy shook her head, looking frustrated. "She's being unreasonable. You guys can't just ignore each other like this. It's not going to solve anything."

"I know, but I don't know how to fix it," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. The tears threatened to spill over, but I blinked them back, determined not to show weakness.

As we pulled into the driveway, I felt a sense of dread wash over me. I knew I should talk to Sarah, but how could I when everything felt so tangled and raw? I looked at Nya and Avy and l smiled but l felt guilty cause I didn't tell them everything abt me and Sarah, how our friendship didn't just end in one fight...  

Flashback: The Shift

A year ago, during the school year, everything began to change, especially after choir selections. I remember walking into the cafeteria and spotting Sarah and Natasha at a table, laughing and joking like they had known each other for years. My stomach twisted with a mix of anxiety and confusion.

I had always imagined that high school would be our time to shine together. Instead, I watched from the sidelines as they became inseparable. It stung, but I convinced myself that it was just a phase.

One day, I couldn't hold back any longer. I approached them, trying to put on a brave face. "Hey, can I join you guys?"

Natasha looked up, her smile bright and welcoming, however, l knew it was fake, I don't care abt her much but Sarah's expression was different—almost guarded and I felt that weird feeling of sadness wash over me.... "Sure! We were just talking about our project for art class," she said, her eyes darting to Natasha.

I sat down, forcing a smile as I listened to them exchange ideas. But deep down, a knot tightened in my stomach. It felt like I was an intruder in my own friendship.

A few days later, during lunch, I found myself staring at Sarah and Natasha across the table. Their laughter echoed in my ears, drowning out the rest of the cafeteria.

"Hey, Sarah," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Can we talk for a minute? I've been feeling a bit left out."

Sarah frowned, her brows knitting together. "Left out? Izu, we're still friends! I just thought it'd be fun to hang out with Natasha too."

"Fun? It seems like you're too busy with her to even notice me anymore," I shot back, frustration bubbling over. "It's like I don't exist unless you want something."

"You're being dramatic!" Sarah snapped, her tone sharp. "Just because I'm spending time with someone else doesn't mean I don't care about you."

"It feels like you're replacing me," I said, my voice trembling. "I miss hanging out with you. It's not just about being in the same room!"

"Why can't you just be happy for me?" Sarah yelled, her voice rising above the noise of the cafeteria. "I'm trying to enjoy my life, and it's not my fault if you're feeling insecure."

"Insecure? It's not insecurity, Sarah! It's watching you drift away from me!" I exclaimed, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes.

"Maybe you need to work on your own issues instead of blaming me!" she retorted, her frustration mirroring mine.

In that moment, the distance between us felt monumental, like an unbridgeable chasm. I was left standing there, heart aching, while Sarah turned back to Natasha, who had been quietly observing our argument with a smirk on her face.

Back to the present Day

The memory felt like a sharp knife cutting through me as I stood in my driveway, staring at the ground. I didn't want to relive that moment, but it was too late; it was already happening again.

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.

"Hey, Izu?" Nya's voice broke through my thoughts again. "You sure you don't want to talk about it?"

I shook my head, forcing a smile. "No, it's fine. I just need a minute."

As I climbed out of the car, I felt a lump in my throat. Why did everything have to feel so complicated? I wanted to reach out to Sarah, to tell her that I was scared of losing her, but the words felt trapped inside me.

How could I fix this? I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the battle ahead. I needed to try.

Maybe it was time to break down those walls, to confront the fears I had been pushing aside. I just had to find a way to reach her—before it was too late.