Short Story: Al 2

Short Story: Al 2

‘Oh God. Not you again.’

‘Oh come on! I know you’ve missed me!’

‘No I haven’t. In fact I have quite enjoyed the absence of your irritating presence.’

‘Methinks the lady doth protest too much!’

‘Bugger off.’

‘Oh come now, that’s no way to speak to your once best friend! You always used to come to me for help and for a shoulder to cry on. Why are you being so mean?’

‘Because you are a bad influence. I thought you were helping me, thought you had my best interests at heart but instead you led me down this crappy path, telling me in jolly tones that it was the equivalent of the sodding yellow brick road.’

I turned around and faced him. I could almost feel my heart popping out my chest in indignation and anger. Bizarrely he looked as polished and shiny as he had when I had first met him. Untouched. He looked clean and pure but I knew from experience that he was anything but.

He didn’t move. Regarded me from a clear, almost glassy eye and practically snorted with derision.

‘I know you think about me. I know you almost want to beg me to come back into your life. I’m stronger than you. Nobody is going to hurt me. But I know that you get hurt and other people get hurt. That’s when you used to turn to me and ask for help. Help to get you through it all. Now you push me aside without so much as a thank you. Well, two can play that game. I give you a week before you give in and turn to me for some equivalent first aid band on a cut.’

I took a deep breath. Bit my lip and narrowed my eyes at his utter arrogance in such self belief. It also bloody annoyed me that he knew me so well. But I was determined this time. This time he would not influence me and dominate me like he had in the past.

Like my other exs he was controlling. Not quite obvious at first but slowly, silently taking over until I couldn’t even go out without checking with him first. I almost cringe with shame and embarrassment at how he took over my life. I didn’t notice at first. Thought he had been a positive influence. He made me feel good. I was happy and laughed a lot and he made me feel confident. Friends and family said he had changed me and not, as I initially thought, for the better. They said that without him around I was irritable and argumentative. ‘Come on bring on the fight!’ That was how I thought. Everyone else was an idiot. Oh how wrong I was.

‘Well?’

He cut into my thoughts and for a brief second I felt like smashing him one! He was the reason some of my friends no longer spoke to me.

‘Piss OFF!’

He sat there in all his shiny, brand new glory. Twinkling in the sunlight that had appeared through the living-room window.

‘Come on. Go for it. I want it. You want it. Lets make each other happy. I mean that’s what I’m here for. To make you smile and laugh! Who cares about those stick-in-the-muds! At least you know how to have fun! Everyone else is so bloody boring!’

For a moment I sat and regarded this individual and digested what he had said. Maybe he was right. Maybe everyone else was boring and sad. I was the sparkly one! I was the one who made things happen! Cajole people into partying and have fun!

I walked with him out into the sunshine that was warm and signalled summer was finally on its way. I sat down beside him and smiled.

‘I hate it when you’re right.’

‘Ah you love it really! I’m a constant. Forget those muppets who claimed to be friends. At least I’m always here for you. At least I never let you down!’

As I sat there in the garden, enjoying the warmth of the sun, I realised in a horrible, jerky, heart-stopping moment I had been conned. He’d done it again. Lured me in. Making me feel all lovely and, dare I say it, smug in my contentedness. Oh bloody hell. He had done it again.

I stood up and in one swift movement, I picked him up by the scruff of the neck and literally kicked him out of the garden.

‘GET LOST!’ I hissed at him as he went flying onto the driveway and landed with a rather undignified spin on the pavement.

‘You don’t mean it love! I will be back! Always there! On the periphery. You will try and dodge me. Try and pretend I don’t exist but you will always have me on your conscience. Forever.’

He was right. In a maddening way, he would always be with me. Whether I liked it or not.

Right now though, I had a few letters to write. Make amends. Hope that people didn’t hate me that much. Tell them he had gone from my life and I wasn’t planning on having him or his mates over any time soon.