Unchanged

“You know,” Ashalia spoke as we cuddled on our bed, “I don’t like it when you get too friendly with other girls.” She spoke suddenly, but her words came out as if she had been thinking about me for a while.
“You know I love you.” I said to reassure her.
She broke my embrace and sat up with all seriousness. “I know, but sometimes it feels like you’re slipping away from me.” She looked hurt, so I held her hand. We didn't say anything for a while, we just sat with each other swallowed in silence. What she said was true to me too, I felt like we were slipping away from each other.

I knew which ‘other girls’ Ashalia was talking about. I didn't have many friends – the few friends I did have were guys. There could only have been one girl she meant.

Rina.

Rina, the girl that was fragile but tough at the same time. The girl that despite all odds, was an Irilies, just like me.
She didn't even know it.