The Truth Unfolded

The Truth Unfolded|5

"Stephanie?" I squinted my eyes to get a good look at this person that was facing me. 

 I had a bad feeling about this.

I turned around and walked away from this figure. I speed walked as my nervousness intensified.  

I turned around for a split second and the figure was following me.

Crap. 

I ran faster but slowed down as I didn't have the energy.

I've had enough. I want to leave already. I faced the stranger and started to walk towards the figure. "Stephanie? Is that you?"

I reached the figure and it was Stephanie.

But she wasn't speaking.

"Stephanie, say something."

She stood there. Frozen. Not even moving.

I was fed up at this point. 

I walked away with a sigh of anger until someone gripped my shoulders.

I jumped and broke out in a run.

"Harlow, stop! You can't run away. I'm on your side."

I stopped, dead in my tracks.

"I don't know if I believe you" I spoke, with a cold and tired voice.

I turned around, facing her.

"Look, I followed you here. I really wanted to speak to you but Flora was there. She thinks that I am her best friend. I'm not her best friend."

I didn't speak. 

"I know I shouldn't have ignored you for 3 days and I'm sorry. But running away doesn't solve anything. Firstly, your parents would be worried sick and it also makes you look like a coward. You want them all to win and believe that you took the trophy when you didn't?"

"I don't care about the trophy and I don't care about anyone. I needed you the most but you weren't there. What is the point of telling me this now when I'm leaving and never coming back? You can't stop me from leaving, Stephanie." I spoke, in a demanding voice.

My voice was as cold as ice. There was no happiness on my face. It was all anger. 

I turned my back and walked away, leaving Stephanie gaping at my back with a shocked expression.

I heard fast footsteps following me from behind.

She grabbed my shoulders again.

"Please don't leave!"

I shook her off and started walking faster.

She caught up to me and held my shoulders again.

"Please, Harlow!"

I shook her off again and walked with more speed than before.

She grabbed my shoulders, trying to stop me again but this time, it was with a lot of force and it felt painful. I winced and stopped but didn't face her.

Please, Harlow!"

I've had enough. 

I turned around. "Leave me alone, Stephanie. I don't like you. You follow Flora like a sheep and you didn't even want my side of the story. But it's because you're scared of Flora, aren't you? Well guess what, I don't want to talk to you, Flora and the rest of this whole town again! That includes my parents and my brother because they've started to ignore me as well. Is there anyone actually on my side? No one is. I'm alone in this town and no one cares about MY feelings!"  

Each sentence that I spoke, gradually got louder with fury. 

On each sentence, I walked closer to Stephanie, making her move backwards.

My words were hitting her mentally as she became scared by the sudden outburst of anger.

I respired gradually and verbalized quietly to truncate the tension. "That's it. Flora's got you. She's manipulated and brainwashed you yet, you don't see that. It was obvious you were scared or conflicted but what are you scared of and why? Why would you be scared when we have each other? If this was the other way round, I would've been on your side. Best friends are meant to be there for each other. We were best friends. I don't know what else to say to you, Stephanie."

Stephanie looked down at the ground, her lips trembling. I knew I had hurt her feelings but, I needed to be straight-forward with her. I needed to express how I felt towards her. I was angry and annoyed.

 I'm not staying here. I looked at Stephanie one more time, got my belongings and walked away to the nearest bus stop. The bus appeared just as I reached the stop. Good timing.

I went in and sat at the back, leaning my head on the seat and exhaled loudly.

I don't know how I'm going to live with this. 

Running away was my only choice. 

No one wants me here and that is the truth.