AllFreeNovel
Share Us
WILLOW
What was I thinking? The question plays on repeat in my head as I look around the office I’m sitting in.
I’ve never set foot in here before and this place is nothing like I imagined, looking in from the outside.
That’s all I’ve been doing for the past ten years, and I don’t know how it got to this. We used to be tight. The three of us were always there for each other—until we weren’t.
Two large wooden desks sit on opposite sides of the room facing each other and I know they belong to Shane and Alex.
The way each is set up tells me who sits where.
Shane’s desk is organized and uncluttered. He was always regimented in the way his personal space was set up.
Alex’s area is more warm and comforting, and it’s more cluttered. The items on top don’t seem like they are specifically meant to be there, and are placed more for convenience of reach.
Their work spaces reflect their individual personalities and they always did everything together so I’m not surprised to see two desks in here.
While I’m happy to see them still close after all this time, it makes me sad because I am not a part of them anymore, and I never thought I would feel so alone.
Sitting here makes me realize how far outside of their world I am. I know nothing about them now and they know even less about me.
Everything was different back when we were in high school. It was easier.
I was best friends with the two hottest guys in high school. They were the only reason all of the popular girls invited me to parties. The three of us were close and where I went, they usually came along or they would show up at some point in the night.
They dated here and there, but no one seemed to stick around for long, then they just seemed to stop bringing girls around. At the time, I didn’t mind because I enjoyed their attention, even if it was just as friends.
I never had the heart to tell them how hard I began to crush on them at the end of high school, but I didn’t like just one of them. They both invaded my thoughts at different times, and sometimes together. There was just something about each of them. I couldn’t imagine choosing one over the other and I didn’t want to say anything and lose our close friendship.
Then we graduated and everything changed.
I guess it was time to grow up.
I was so proud of them when they opened their club. I knew they would make something of themselves. I realized they were moving on when I wasn’t invited to their club’s grand opening. I tried to brush it off, but that moment crushed me.
Then they began to get busy and we grew further apart.
After I opened my own business, we just lost touch.
Losing both of them broke my heart but I knew they had moved on and it was time for me to do the same.
So instead of wallowing around, I sunk myself into my business and the extra work paid off. I became so busy that I hired extra staff, and my little dream became the neighborhood stop for a coffee and a nice place to sit.
The location was perfect and soon the office buildings downtown caught wind of us. I expanded to include some catering for lunches and meetings but we were growing too fast.
Just when I wasn’t sure if we could afford to expand to meet demand, a local community revitalization program had taken an interest and I heard about a grant. I applied immediately and we got it.
Then Dale came along.
I can’t regret him completely, but everything changed after he stepped in. I should have been more prepared for him, but I was naive and he took full advantage.
Pushing my memories down, I look at the food on the small table in front of me.
I am starving.
The chicken sandwich smells delicious and I could really use that glass of wine right now.
I’ve been running around all day trying to work and teach myself poker before this game, and I forgot to eat unless you count the three cookies I shoved into my mouth between customer rushes.
