What Broke The Silence

The next morning, I was eager to make amends with Sarah, who was still mad at me. I called her early, but she didn't pick up. I wondered if she was busy or just avoiding me. At school, Sarah continued to dodge me, refusing to talk or even acknowledge my presence. It still baffled me how quickly things fell apart, all because I gave her contact to someone I thought could help. What I saw as a small favor, she took as betrayal.

As I navigated the empty halls, I felt a deep sense of loneliness. My friends were all preoccupied with their own relationships - Chris was with Ariel, and Peter was trying to reconcile with his girlfriend. I was left feeling isolated and desperate.

As I was in my room the other day, I thought about my painful past and how I used to be a loner. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I realized that no matter what, I'd always have to face reality alone.

Needing a distraction, I then took a walk to the coffee shop. That's when I saw her – a young woman sitting alone on a bench, looking lost and troubled. I approached her cautiously.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked, trying to sound gentle.

She looked up, her eyes welling up with tears. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, her voice cracking.

I sat down beside her and offered her my face towel. "You seem troubled," I said gently. "Want to grab a cup of coffee with me and clear our minds?"

She nodded her head, and we walked to the coffee shop together.

"By the way, I'm Cedric."

"I know you, Cedric - Sarah's friend, right?" she replied.

"My name is Mitchell," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "When you approached me earlier, I was lost in thought. A lot is going on in my life, and I just want to escape, but I don't know how." Her voice cracked as she spoke, and I could sense the depth of her emotions.

Mitchell let out a deep sigh, then smiled warmly. "Thanks for suggesting coffee, Cedric. I really needed this break and I am glad I am here especially with you"

As we sipped our coffee, Mitchell opened up more about herself. "To be honest, I grew up in a poor family," she said, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "Sometimes I'm embarrassed to talk about it, but for some reason, I feel comfortable sharing it with you." She paused, gazing at me with a warm smile. "I guess you're just easy to talk to Cedric, and you easily let people in"

Mitchell's smile widened as she continued, "I have two other siblings, a brother who's second in line, and my little sister - who's basically my mini-me!" She burst out laughing, and I couldn't help but join in. As we chatted and shared funny stories, I felt an instant connection with her. It was as if we'd known each other for years.

After coffee, I asked Mitchell if she wanted to do something fun. We ended up going bowling, and she had a blast. As we played, I noticed Sarah watching us from across the room, a mixture of anger and sadness on her face.

As the evening drew to a close, I asked Mitchell if she wanted to grab dinner with me. She agreed, and we walked out together, arm in arm. "Cedric, I don't wanna lie, let me confess that today I am happy to have found someone to connect with, as I usually am alone all the time."

Just as things were going smoothly, Sarah appeared out of nowhere, her eyes blazing with jealousy. She poured water on Mitchell, splashed another glass in her face.

Sarah's eyes blazed with anger as she confronted Mitchell. "You're the reason Cedric is pushing me away, how could you?" Her voice was shrill, her eyes red-rimmed, and her face twisted in a fierce scowl. She was terrifying.

As Sarah’s words dissolved into sobs, Charlie stepped between us, his jaw clenched. “Sarah, come on,” he said firmly, guiding her away. “This isn’t helping.”

A moment later, he returned, eyes sharp with resentment. “So this is what you’re doing now?” he muttered. “Hijacking my night like that?”

I opened my mouth to explain, but the words got lost somewhere in my throat.

“Whatever,” Charlie said, shaking his head. “Enjoy your little moment.” Then he walked out, leaving behind a silence louder than any outburst.

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