The Masks We Wear

Chapter 5| Something Has Changed

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."

~Maya Angelou

{ S C A R L E T T ' S P O V )

It's been a solid three months. Three months since I've joined the Photography club.

I could officially say it was the best decision I've ever made.

The bullying continued.

But at least I had a friend.

The Photography in a way, was my stress relief. It would help me think, and make me more calm in situations.

Freya was there for me. I know she wondered why there was always an occasional airplane aimed at me, or how I would get glared at wherever I go.

But she didn't ask me why, and I was thankful for that.

I'm not sure if I would ever be ready for that. To tell her everything.

I mean, I trusted her. A lot. After all, she was my friend, my only friend.

But even friends can't help with emotional wounds. I don't like revisiting the past. The present is what matters now.

Right?

A small voice in the back of my head haunts me, whispering at me to tell her. I'm perfectly aware that there's a bomb somewhere, ticking to the final moments of Freya and I's friendship.

And then the bomb will go off, and our friendship will break.

Anyways, it's been a good three months. I can say that some people treat me more like an actual human being. They respect my work.

But the bullying will never stop. It will continue, and it'll be harder and harder to hide it from my parents.

This thought hasn't occurred to me yet until Freya confronted me about it today, in the girls washroom.

"Why didn't you tell me."

Of course, I was startled by the harsh tone of her voice, and the unyieldingness of her expression.

"What?" I asked stupidly, not fully aware of what was happening.

And she exploded.

"This! All of this!" She flung her arms around wildly, her rosy cheeks turning more red than usual.

"You know, I questioned it when all of those horrid things kept on happening to you, how no one treated you like the amazing person you are ! I suspected it at first, but I brushed the thought away, thinking it was nothing! "

By then, I had a feeling I knew what she was talking about.

"Who told you?" I asked, my voice surprisingly steady.

"It doesn't matter! What matters is that you were my friend! Hell no, you were my best friend here! I thought best friends told one another everything!" Her voice cracked on the last word.

Devastation is a confusing emotion.

Sometimes you feel as though you're drowning from reality, and you're calling for help, but no one can hear your screams.

Best friend.

I haven't been called that for a long time.

It hurt knowing I broke her trust.

I knew it hurt even more for her. I wanted her to avoid me. The only thing that would happen in the end is guilt.

I was selfish. I knew that as soon as I dragged her into the mess I was in, I wouldn't have the heart to let her out.