All of Me...
When you cry I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me
The breeze was cool if a bit uncomfortable. Two figures sat on a bench overlooking the large pond; separated by eighteen inches that might as well have been eighteen miles….
“I’m sorry that I’m such a disappointment,” Greta’s voice trailed off; almost in anticipation for a hoped-for consolation that would never come. The wind seemed to have grown colder, but the temperature hadn’t changed. She turned to see Deke looking away.
“I don’t know what else to say….” She gasped. He turned to her and glared.
“It’s not like …. Nothing you can say will change anything….” He spat. The words stung. Greta’s eyes pled even as he started to turn away once again.
“Believe me, Deke…. If I thought it would have…. You can’t …. I don’t know how to say it other than what I’ve told you. If I stayed the same I would have died. This is who I am….this is all of me.”
“Not from where I sit. Do you know how much this hurts?” He sighed. Her eyes widened a bit in confusion and anger. How much it hurt him?
“Well I’m sorry I didn’t consult you,” she shook her head in frustration.
“You didn’t even tell me….How could you do that?” It was his turn to plead. It had to be hard to know something you believed…..someone whom you believed in….would withhold so much of himself? Deke waved his hand at her in confused dismissal.
“Would it have made any difference?” She looked down at herself as if his words had laid her bare. The shame of merely wanting what everyone else in this lifetime wants.
“I thought…. This is disgusting!” Deke continued to glare at her. His eyes flashed an anger that she thankfully never saw since her face was downcast. But the word destroyed what little love she had for herself as it was slammed hard against what had now become hatred from her best friend.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you,” she repeated; this time softly as she began to cry. The words had lost their bite as the sarcasm gave way to complete despair. He thought only of himself; not too hard to imagine since we almost always see things first from our perspective. Greta could only hope with time that he would see things enough through her eyes to not hate her.
“Goodbye, Greg….” His words were tinged slightly with a regret that was engulfed in his own selfish pain. He stood up and walked away without another word.
“G…goodbye,” she said weakly. Life was just as it always had been. But no matter how much pain the moment just past had brought, she would live her life. Even still, she sighed before lowering her head to weep for the loss that even the best life would not heal…..
“I…I love you….”
My Immortal
Words and music by
Amy Lee, Ben Moody,
and David Hodges
As performed by
Evanescence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5anLPw0Efmo
Comments
So Sad
I wish he'd had the guts and decency to say, "Goodbye Greg. Hello Greta." Why do people have to get mad rather than trying to understand. Why is there this visceral reaction?
Portia
Because
They feel threatened. They are not taught anything else by most parents except to be a manly man and any deviation is bad. It may be totally unconsciously done but it's still done. The toys, the games, the attitudes. It all adds up in a child's make up. Sad really.
Chris
“I…I love you….”
sniffle. very, very sad.
Good story but
I know not all stories end happily but I'd sure wish they could.
Chris
Breaking up, breaking hearts.
Ow. I started seeing this part way through, as I took in the scene, as Deke being angry at losing his boyfriend. Unlikely for the situation to come up and ambush him, but heck, can't unsee it now.
Teri Ann
"Reach for the sun."
Damn! Unhappy ending!
But still brilliantly written as always.
All of me: Why not take all of me? How many times have we all asked this question? It was very much as life is.
Thank you,
Maren
Damn! Unhappy ending!
Oops, double post. Asleep at the switch!
So painful...
But all too common a reaction.
I'm glad to see someone still has an interest in my challenges, to boot.
Thank you, Andrea.
Melanie E.
Another fine story
I always find your writing emotionally charged with unexpected twists. You are a fine writer. Keep sharing your stories.
A story that seems....
To play out exactly this way all to often! A sad, but accurate depiction of a scene when one introduces one's "True" self to a best friend. Why must they almost always play the victim and lash out. Drea dear, thank you for sharing this. Loving Hugs Talia
Nice work. More accessible
Nice work. More accessible than some of your more recent offerings. That isn't a criticism, by the way.