The Passing Clouds

We grew up together since childhood. Amelia and I were best friends. We went to the same school. We were sorted into the same teams almost always. When we were little girls, one day, she was walking down the pavement. It was then I realized she lived two streets away from mine. She was new to the town. She kept walking looking at her feet afraid to run into strangers and their strange conversations. 

A week later I was sitting by my window and looking at the skies when I heard a bunch of boys laugh. It was usual to see guys gang up at the end of the street before they rode on their bikes. I looked at them thinking it was one such day, but I saw Amelia walking ahead of them.

She was being followed and teased by those jocks. I thought I must do something. But what can I do? I am just a faint-hearted girl. But this time, I wasn't able to avoid the urge to confront the boys. I quickly walked out of my house and walked in a way I thought was brisk. I could hear my heart thumping and I felt like all the blood was rushing to my brain now. 

I stopped in front of Amelia who was still looking down. She looked up at my face and I saw the fear in her watery blue eyes. I stood up for her and yelled at the boys. I made sure I wasn't being too abusive but, I made my point clear. As I kept talking one of the boys stepped forward and pulled her behind by her neck. I was shocked to see a boy hurt that girl there. 

“You better leave her alone,” I said.

“Haha, who are you? superwoman, eh?”

“Well, if you want me to be one, I can show you.” But deep down I knew I was not that person. 

The boys kept looking at each other, in more of a sarcastic way than in fear. I had to gather all the last of the courage I had. I slowly walked towards one of the shorter boys in the front, pulled his collar, and stomped on his feet. 

As he yelled in pain holding his feet, the other boy’s catch on Amelia’s hair loosened. I grabbed Amelia’s hand and ran as fast as our legs could take. Amelia yelped a little before she picked up, a few locks were caught in the silver band the was wearing on his wrist. A few boys started chasing us but a few others motioned to stop. Before they could make a proper decision, we ran into my house and slammed the door behind us, hoping they hadn’t noticed. 

We leaned our backs on the door and were panting. Amelia slowly turned to me and said, “Thank you, I am Amelia.” We kept looking at each other for a few seconds before we fell down laughing till our tummies hurt. We’ve been friends ever since.

It was only after we realized that we went to the same school and in fact the same grade too! That made un inseparable. We had the best times of our life till the last year of middle school. Or at least I had. After going into high school, I felt Amelia starting to avoid me after the summer before high school. We went to school together, but she seemed like she was not very interested in being with me. I thought it must be that I had spent too much time away from her during the summer. So she was either mad at me, or I was me just feeling different.

We were sorted into different classes in high school. I majored in Social Work, Literature, and Psychology while she did Economics, Geography, and Math. We had English together, but it didn’t take me too long to notice she had new people to give her company. One evening, I texted her saying it had been too long since we hung out properly so I thought we should go to a diner in the next street. She started saying she had plans when I said that I had to talk to her. She agreed to spend an hour with me. I went to the diner at 5 as I had decided, she was already seated drinking her Coke. I was kind of happy to see her there, I smiled and to the seat in front of her. 

“So how have things been in school?”, I asked. It was such a weird question to ask my best friend when I had literally known so much about her since we were young. 

“Yeah, it’s ben fun. I am loving the new subjects and I am keeping myself busy. So what’s that you wanted to talk?”

That was a quick question, I thought she wanted to talk for longer. 

“Well, I don’t know why I feel it but, I feel like you’ve gotten a little distant since last summer...Is everything alright?”

“Umm… Actually, I have to tell you something.”

My stomach literally dropped. I don’t want to hear whatever is coming following that statement. 

“Yeah, go on. I’m all ears.” I shrug uncomfortably, I know it’s something I don't want to hear but I have to. I have to face it. It’d be better to know than to jump into random conclusions. 

“Umm... So I met a boy. His name is Mike.” I can see a weird expression spread across her face. It was like a smile or blush but hesitant because I was in front of her.

“And…?”

“We’ve been going out for a while now.”

“Oh, that’s great, Amelia. I’m happy for you.” I am happy to know she’s found someone, But why hide it from me? I know we had been just the two girls for a long time. It doesn't mean that I wouldn’t want her to be with someone else who would maker her happy for the rest of her life. 

“Yeah, thank you. So that was it.”

“Oh, come on. You didn’t have to feel weird about it.”

“Actually…”

“It’s okay, Amelia. I’ve been your best friend.” I cut her off and continue. “You deserve this. How long have you been going out?”

“Umm.. since the week before you left for your summer vacation.”

I was thrown by that statement. I had been with her a whole week before that. I didn’t notice anything different in her behavior. I don’t mind the fact that she wouldn’t tell me then. But why the change of behavior? I wondered.

“And...Throughout summer he was with me.”, she continued. “I enjoy his company. He’s been making me so much happier.” 

“I get that and I am really happy for you. But...” I am losing it. But I don’t want to yell at her. “But, why do you have to abandon me? We were great friends, right? How does that change?”

“It does she said…” Her eyes that were looking at me intently shifted to something behind me. Before I could say anything, she said, “I am sorry, I have to go”

“Wait..”

“No, you’ll figure it out. I have to go. MIke wouldn’t want me here.”

I didn’t understand a thing. And I left. 

Five months flew after she decided to cut me off. I always thought I would be her best friend and we’d live next to each other when we grew up. It was all so silly now. She doesn’t even want me around. I don’t know what’s so mesmerizing about that Mike guy. I was walking down the pavement looking down at my feet. I bumped into someone. I saw this woman and said sorry to her. I looked forward and continued walking, I didn’t want to bump into anyone else.

At the end of the street, I saw a boy who hugged her. It was Amelia. When they retracted from the hug, I noticed something familiar on the boy’s wrist. The silver band, and it made all sense. I walked past them, Amelia saw me, I just smiled and continued walking. I could finally think I am good by myself. I remembered what I had read somewhere long ago, "Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad for that."