Walking Away

About unrequited loves and goodbyes

"Come with me" you said. "We can talk. And I know you don't have anything better to do".

I really didn't. To be honest, even if I did, I'd probably still just go along anyway. It was impossible for me to say no to you and I've always wondered what you would do if you knew it.

"It's been a while since we talked" you turned around and started walking, without even bothering to look back and see if I was following. "How's life?".

I walked behind you, looking at your back like I always did.

"It's fine" I said, even though it wasn't. Keeping myself away from you wasn't working. Still, I had no other choice but to keep trying.

"You know, you've been kind of aloof lately. I was sure something was going on" you stopped and turned to me. "Don't worry me like that, okay? I mean, we're friends, right?". And then, for the first time in a while I remembered the color of your eyes and how dangerous they were to me. It always felt like you could see through all my lies and that really scared me sometimes.

I looked down. "I gotta go now, sorry".

"Really?" you said scratching your head. "That's too bad. Don't worry, we'll catch up later".

You seemed hurt. Still, all I could do was smile before walking away from you. I'll have to find a way to apologize when it's all over. But for the first time, you were looking at my back as I walked away, and not the other way around. Maybe that meant things were actually changing this time. I always knew it would never work out between us, why should I bother?

It's best for everyone if things just stay the way they always were. Trying to keep this in mind, I was able to walk away for the first time without looking back. Or so I thought.

Reviews

[Robert Parlange]

It’s not easy when we lose ourselves in someone. We invest all our emotions and don’t get any returns. I was never very good in business or romance. Maybe there’s a parallel.

You displayed great strength in the essay. You have the power.

[Chris]

Seems so many WANT to "walk away" from their presents and yet so few can. Is it because they don't know how to BE themselves when they are by themself?