"We'll be friends forever, right guys?"
"You bet!"
What?
They're having a divorce?
I didn't know what to feel. I just didn't know, okay? I didn't know kids whose parents went through a divorce. All Elena and I ever wanted was a perfect family, a perfect life, best friends, someone to love (not really relevant but I though I might add that). I may have friends but it wasn't real. We weren't even supposed to share personal stuff. The only people going through this would be Elena and I.
I sneaked a glance at Elena. She was frozen, no expression -nothing. It was as if she had turned to a stone. I knew she changed her mind about having a perfect family with them but I knew her better than that. Maybe somewhere she wanted things to go back to normal.
But now with this 'decision' out in the air, things would never be the same.
We'd never be the same.
After a few seconds, Elena asked. "When are you going through with....this?"
"T-Tomorrow." Mother said, her voice cracking.
Wait, tomorrow?
Tomorrow was my birthday!
Are they really going to....?
"Why tomorrow?" I asked, this time.
Father shrugged. "The quicker ,the better. The procedures take too long."
"I need to go." Elena and I said in unison and we rushed out of the mansion.
___
The atmosphere outside was a stark contrast from the inside atmosphere. Outside, it was much lighter and nicer. The warm sunlight hit our skin, warming our insides while the ice cold atmosphere, inside the mansion , froze us to death.
Elena took a deep breath before turning to see me. "Walk with me?"
I nodded, taking her arm in mine before wandering around the mansion.
After a few steps, Elena asked. "You okay?"
I shrugged. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"It's your birthday tomorrow." She reminded. "Every year you're going to be reminded about their divorce."
It was true. I would be reminded. But I guess, I had better things to look at.
"I wish no kid had to deal with this."
"Same." She breathed out.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
"Who is it?"
I took the phone out to see 'Snow White' written in the caller ID.
"A friend."
She raised her eyebrow. "You don't name a friend Snow White."
Without missing a beat, "I gotta take this."
"You owe me-"
"-an explanation, I know."
I received.
"Uh-huh....I'm so sorry...something came up....yeah, personal stuff....uh-huh..uh-huh....yeah, you guys have fun, I can't make it....thanks, Alex." I hung up.
"So?"
"Fine. I'll explain it."
"That's like a good boy." She patted my arm.
___________
After I explained to her the whole story, her reaction was-
LAUGHTER!
She laughed her heart out.
And it was a pleasure to watch.
"You know.....you just....lifted my....spirits!" She exclaimed in between her laughter.
I smiled. "I know."
"You have great friends."
"We're just bound by each other's problems."
She smiled. "Not forever."
I furrowed my eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
"What I mean is, you might not be friends now...but that doesn't mean they won't be the people who stick with you forever. From what you told me, they might just be the people you need."
"You sound way too old," I remarked.
"And you sound way too clueless and childish." She retorted.
"Hey, I'm not clueless and I'm definitely not childish!"
She ruffled my hair before sprinting off. "Keep telling yourself that!"
"HEY!" I chased her.
People say when one door closes another one opens.
Well, that was true.
At least in my case.
When one family broke, another formed.
I was just too blind to notice it.