Interrupted Heart

6 | UNSPOKEN

"What you know about me, girl?!" Attempting to shake her petite derriere in my face, my close friend, Stasi, was currently doing her 90's inspired victory dance after achieving a strike. I rolled my eyes and stood up to take my turn as we were currently at our local bowling alley on one of the few nights that I had off.

About 3 weeks had passed since I abruptly left Shae's apartment, not even telling him 'goodbye' because I feared he would attempt to ridicule me for my visible emotion; an emotion that he saw as weak.

Evidently, my quick departure did not faze him as my phone hadn't flashed with his name nor had my eyes seen him in the flesh. My normal routine would be me calling his phone a few times a day or even making a few trips to his place of rest to be disappointed by the absence of a greeting.

Looking to my left, I saw a man helping his apparent girlfriend with her bowling technique. They both looked so in love and carefree. Inside I was jealous, of course, who wouldn't be?

That was Shae and I just over 2 years ago and I couldn't believe how much our relationship had changed. In life you expect things to get better as they mature; like wine, but our relationship had gone off like spoiled milk.

During my whole life I had never been the one to give up and everyone knew that, however, maybe it was time to start.

"What's the matter with you? Are you playing or not?" Two large, brown eyes jilted me out of my thoughts.

I nodded my head absentmindedly, grabbing the nearest bowling ball, which happened to be the heaviest, and hurling it down the lane. Lucky for me, I scored a strike sending Stasi into dismay. She took her turn, tutting loudly as her ball travelled into the gutter.

"So, the more miserable you are, the better you play? You better lighten up so that I can win, bitch."

"You never win regardless."

"I know I could win at how many phone numbers I could get." She rolled her neck at me and placed her hands on her hips giving me plenty of sass. I laughed as I looked around to see if anyone was witnessing this peacock.

"Of course you would, Stasi." I picked up my drink. "I'm not a hoe." I taunted her. Her mouth dropped as I threw my head back in laughter. She was so easily wound up it was beyond amusing.

Stasi had a fiery personality and the male species seemed to like it as well as her good looks. There were days when she would wear a little too much makeup, today being one of them, just to attract attention. Her exotic looks were enough to catch anyone's attention. Males and females. Old and young. I guess behind the smile and sass, she was just as insecure as I was.

"Bitch, I could take your man."

"I know that already." She squinted her eyes at me and then came and sat beside me. Stasi's words didn't affect me in the slightest and I know her thoughts were of confusion because if I was talking about taking her man, my ass would be used as a bowling ball; easily hitting a strike, of course.

The sounds of the balls hitting the skittles, the gaming sound effects and people's unfiltered, voiced emotions filled the space around us.

"You don't seem that bothered. You guys have been together for so long."

"Maybe too long." I shrugged, letting my thoughts wander once again. I tried to visualise what my life would be like if I had never met Shae all those years ago. One word stood out over everything.

Better.

I tried to think more positively although my trying wasn't hard enough. Then again it was hard to fake reality.