Intertwined

Sarah sat nervously on the edge of her seat, her fingers tracing anxious patterns on the lid of her untouched coffee. Despite her long-standing friendship with Jenna, she couldn't shake the nervous flutter in her stomach as she awaited her best friend's arrival. Weeks had passed since their last meeting, and Sarah couldn't help feeling that something had shifted between them.

When Jenna finally entered, Sarah noticed her friend's distressed expression. Though Jenna tried to mask her emotions with a brave face, the glistening tears in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. Besides, Sarah knew her better than anyone and it was impossible for her to not recognize when her friend was upset. 

Taking a deep breath, Jenna sat across from Sarah, her usual confident demeanor faltering in the presence of the weighty conversation that loomed between them like truth waiting to be unveiled. The air felt heavy with anticipation as Jenna searched for the right words, her heart drumming a nervous rhythm she was certain everyone could hear. Despite her usual poise, she couldn't shake the fear of uncertainty from the gravity of the moment and the vulnerability it demanded. With a determined exhale, she looked at Sarah, preparing herself for what lay ahead.

"Hey, um... I wanted to talk to you about something," Jenna began, getting right to the reason she asked if they could meet for coffee. The tension in the air was palpable as Sarah held her breath, awaiting Jenna's next words.

Sarah knew what Jenna was going to say. At least she hoped she did. Yet, beneath the thin veneer of certainty lay a bit of apprehension. Maybe she was wrong, she thought. Sarah was patient but silently she was pleading for Jenna's words to confirm the truth that Sarah dared not voice aloud. Despite the flutter of uncertainty she met Jenna's eyes with a semblance of composure, masking the thoughts roiling within her. It was a delicate balance between hope and fear, faith and doubt, as Sarah braced herself for the revelation that hung heavy in the air between them.

Sensing the difficulty of the impending conversation, Sarah reached across the table, gently clasping Jenna's hand. With a reassuring smile, Sarah hoped to convey the depth of her empathy and understanding. Sarah knew what Jenna wanted to say. Now, any doubt she had before was gone. This was the moment she has been waiting for and she didn’t want to wait any longer. 

"I know," Sarah said softly, her voice sincere.

Jenna's eyes widened in surprise, her as she responded, "You do?"

Sarah nodded, her pulse quickening with anticipation. "Yes. And I feel the same."

A sense of relief washed over Jenna, her tense shoulders relaxing as her eye’s sparkled. As she excused herself to get her drink, Sarah settled back in her chair, her anticipation mingling with contentment. She was so excited she wanted to dance on the table. But she didnt of course. It was hard, but she kept her composure.

When Jenna returned to her seat, a shared, knowing smile illuminated the space between them, infusing the air with a sense of warmth and connection that lingered long after she sat down.

Despite the obvious feelings they both shared, Sarah observed a complex mix of emotions flickering across Jenna's face—hints of newfound happiness intertwined with threads of sadness and worry. Jenna seemed to embody the paradox of experiencing conflicting emotions simultaneously, a testament to the depth of her inner turmoil. Sarah's situation was different than Jennas and she knew the path Jenna had to take would be a much harder terrain to navigate. 

Absentmindedly twirling the gold band on her left ring finger, Jenna murmured, "But Mark is such a good guy," her voice tinged with conflict as she struggled to articulate her feelings.

"He really is," Sarah agreed softly, her tone laced with sympathy as she empathized with Jenna's dilemma.

"He's never done anything wrong, but I can't ignore how I feel," Jenna confessed.

"If only we had been honest with each other sooner," Sarah mused, her eyes lingering on Jenna with a mix of understanding and longing. 

Breaking the silence, Jenna admitted, "I never expected to feel this way."

Sarah's heart ached with empathy for Jenna's vulnerability. "I know what you mean. It's like everything has changed, yet nothing has," she responded, her voice soft but filled with emotion.

They sat in silence for a moment. Sarah's mind raced with as it spun a tangled web of anticipation and apprehension. Across from her, Jenna's expression gave way very little, her features a mask of introspection as she navigated the tumultuous depths of her own mind. In the stillness of the moment, they both grappled with the gravity of what lay unsaid.

"So, what are you going to do?" Sarah finally asked.

"I don't know," Jenna replied, uncertainty hanging heavy in the air.

Sarah felt a pang of disappointment at Jenna's indecision, her heart sinking as she had hoped for a more definitive answer. The uncertainty weighed on her, casting a shadow over their interaction, and she longed for clarity amidst the ambiguity of Jenna's response.

"But I refuse to ignore how I feel any longer. But I don't know how to tell him," Jenna continued, frustration evident in her voice.

Sarah's disappointment melted into relief as Jenna clarified her stance. A brief smile crossed her lips, quickly masked as she recognized Jenna's struggle.

Sarah was honestly sympathetic for Jenna, understanding the complexities of her friend's situation, but she couldn't deny the swell of happiness that surged within her. Regardless of how much she truly liked Mark, she couldn't suppress the joy that bubbled up from deep within her heart. It was a delicate balance between empathy for Jenna's plight and unbridled elation for her own newfound happiness. And as much as she wanted to offer comfort to her friend, Sarah couldn't help but revel in the warmth of her own contentment. 

"Can we talk about something else for a while?" Jenna asked.

"Sure," Sarah said, understandingly.

Their conversation drifted to safer topics—discussing the weather, sharing updates about work, and reminiscing about past adventures, like old friends navigating familiar terrain in an attempt to avoid the uncharted waters of their evolving relationship. While their conversations were genuine, they both knew each anecdote served as a temporary refuge from the tension, a gentle diversion from the delicate dance of emotions they both tiptoed around.

After a short while, the tension dissipated, melting away as if nothing was changing and they found themselves chatting and laughing as they always had. The familiarity of their banter was comforting to both of them. As the hours passed, the pressure of the unresolved emotions seemed to lighten, replaced by the easy rhythm of their friendship. Eventually, with a reluctant sigh and shared glances, they both acknowledged that it was probably time to head out, reluctantly bidding farewell to the sanctuary of each other's company, yet carrying with them the promise of future conversations and perhaps, the courage to address the complexities they had delicately skirted around.

Walking out together, Jenna and Mark's apartment lay on the route to Sarah's, so they naturally strolled side by side. Without a word spoken, their hands found each other, fingers intertwining as they continued their journey home, walking hand in hand in comfortable silence.

Reaching the entrance of Jenna's apartment building, the women exchanged a brief glance. Sarah leaned her head towards Jenna's, and Jenna mirrored the gesture. Just as they were about to embrace, a friendly voice interrupted them from a distance that was close enough for them to be recognized but not so close that their actions could be seen. 

"Sarah, Jenna! What's up?" Mark's voice rang out, infused with genuine happiness at the sight of both women.