…just being a good friend

“I just don’t know how we ended up here” Cassandra says.

She sits across from me on my navy blue couch. Tears well up under her jade toned eyes. My heart aches for my neighbor turned best friend.

“Maybe you two can try therapy again” I reply sincerely with a slight shrug.

“Yea maybe…” she says while tucking her strawberry-brownish hair behind her left ear.

“Well listen, you can stay in our guest room for as long as you want…my husband will be away at work for a few days anyway”

“I’d hate to inconvenience you Lorna”

Cassandra crosses her yoga toned legs then brings her knees to her chest and wraps her cardigan tightly around her frame – like a security blanket. The fetus shaped ball she has curled into is like an invisible bubble blown to protect her heart from anymore pain. While watching her, my head tilts to the right as I think – I want to cure her pain.

“It’s no inconvenience Cass. I’d love the company” I reassure.

Three years ago Cass and Mark moved in next door. It was a breath of fresh air to have her in my life. We went from “welcome to the neighborhood” to “let’s go workout” and eventually “how about a girl’s night out?!”.

To see Cass in pain hurts me to the core. Hearing that Mark has been cheating on her makes me wonder how blind and dumb he actually is.

“How about some hot tea?”

“Yea, sure” she sniffles. 

I stand and sashay my broad pear-shaped hips towards the kitchen sink then turn to watch her from the open floor planned layout.

“Peppermint tea ok?” I call over to her.

“yea that’s fine” she announces back while nodding  and blowing her nose into a facial tissue.

I grab the kettle on the stove and pivot to face the sink. My right hand lifts the faucet lever to release water into the  red teapot. 

My mind can’t help but to find itself in a daze. I reminisce about the first time I saw the slim toned yogi practicing her tree pose while her flowy ponytail lightly dusting across her ballerina  postured shoulders. I was sipping a new flavored coffee while seated at the breakfast bar and admiring her as she practiced in her back yard. The morning brew warmed my soul and her presence heated a desire in me. Such a sweet soul should be given all the world has to offer.

Mark doesn’t deserve her. He can’t love her the way I know I can…

“I sprinkled in raw sugar for you…” my bare feet slap the hard wood floor while carrying the hot mugs to the living room area to accompany my friend in need…