The Middle of the Forest, 6:27
The girl started walking, following the map for almost an hour. Hannah looked tired, and the girl glanced at her, feeling guilty for dragging her along. "I'm sorry, Hannah," the girl said.
Hannah replied, "What? No, no, it's a great workout. Now I can have an amazing butt for the beach!" The girls laughed, feeling a little relieved. The girl said, "Hey, let's lie down for a bit." Hannah nodded, and they both sat down next to a tree.
Feeling tired, the girl took out the paper and looked at the map. "We've been walking for an hour, and I don't know if we've even reached the X mark or if we're lost."Hannah said, "It's okay, don't worry. Of course, we'll know if we reach the X mark, and we're in the middle of the forest. The X mark should be something noticeable." Hannah took the paper and started examining it. She then said, "Look, if I'm right, we're here." She pointed at the map.
The girl asked, "Are you sure?"
Hannah replied, "Yes," and handed the paper to the girl. The girl put it in her pocket. Hannah stayed silent for a moment before she said, "Why didn't you tell me what's happening to you? I mean, we're best friends. You were supposed to tell me. I could've helped you or at least stayed by your side. What's the point of being your best friend if I'm not there for you?"The girl looked away, feeling guilty for not telling her. She then looked back at Hannah, her eyes welling up with tears. The girl started crying and said, "I'm so sorry. I didn't want to pressure you with all this. It's all too much for me to handle. I couldn't just ruin your high school life. You're supposed to have fun, go to parties, and have a great time—not be stuck with me and helping me. I know I should've told you before; I know I should've said something, but I couldn't drag you along."The girl cried and sobbed. Hannah's face softened, and she hugged her, pulling her close and rubbing her back. Hannah was surprised; she had never known this side of her friend. She didn't realize her friend had secrets or what she had been going through. Hannah thought to herself, Why didn't I notice what was going on? Even though we spent all our time together at school, is it because I'm not a good friend? Is it because I'm not so smart, or is it because she was hiding her pain so well that I couldn't notice?Hannah said, "It doesn't matter now. What matters most is helping you." She continued, "It's okay, don't cry. I understand why you never told me. You had your reasons. Thank you for thinking about me. From now on, no more hiding secrets or bottling up your pain, okay? I'm your friend, and I want to help you, not just because I'm your friend, but because I want to."
The girl wiped her tears. "Okay, I promise."
They hugged each other. Hannah's eyes started closing, and so did the girl's. They began drifting off to sleep; all this walking was too much for them, or anyone.