Invisible String

but nothing was easy between us

I was upset, hurt, angry, and her couple of support texts were having no effect on me. She didn't have the decency to talk to me for days after what happened. She pretended the episode never existed and continued with her life like it wasn't a big deal.

For the first time since we started our thing I didn't want to be around her or spend any time with her. It was shocking to me how she could be so cold about what happened and it became clear how little she cared about me and how the things her boyfriend said would affect me. That hurt more than any broken bone or surgery. I remember crying myself to sleep for days after that and having to tell my mom that I was so upset because I couldn't play anymore.

"Hi honey." My mom said from my bedroom door. It was another boring night where I was lying in my bed just waiting for time to pass. "I won't be able to take you to the doctor tomorrow, we're low on staff at work and I can't leave unfortunately, so Noreen offered to take you if that's okay with you."

"What? Why? No, absolutely not!" I said emphatically. There was no chance I would go with Cari's mom to the hospital.

"Why Shan? What's wrong with that? She kindly offered to take you when I mentioned that there's two colleagues that are not going this week and we're having to work twice as hard to get everything done. I'm sorry, but if I leave the girls will go crazy with all the things they will have to do."

"I can go alone, I'll take a taxi or whatever."

"You're not going alone, are you crazy?"

"I'm not going with Noreen either."

"Why? Did something happen? I've noticed Cari haven't showed up in here for a couple of weeks already. That's unusual considering the time you two used to spend together."

"No. Nothing happened."

"So why are you so resistant about Noreen taking you to your doctor's appointment?"

"Because that's weird mom!"

"What are you talking about? You know her your entire life, she considers you as her own kid and you should consider her as a second mother too. The Fletchers are like a family to us." Gross. Cari as a sister was not a pleasant thought. "You're going with her, end of discussion. She will pick you up fifteen minutes before your appointment, be ready."

"But..." She left without letting me say anything else and leaving me without any other option. I could deal with Noreen, of course we were close enough to sit at a car and go to a hospital together without it being awkward. As long as her daughter wasn't around there would be no problem. If it wasn't for the fact that me and Cari did things that were far from normal sister activities, I would, in fact, consider her like a mom to me.

But imagine my surprise when, the next day, instead of my 'mom' picking me up, it was my 'sister' (ew) who opened the driver's door and left the car to walk to my front door and ring the bell. What the fuck was she doing was the only thing I could think of in that moment. After the third time the doorbell went off, I finally took the courage to open it.

"Hi." She said shyly. It was the first time that I saw any sign of shyness in her.

"What are you doing here?" I said ready to tell her to leave.

"I'm so sorry." Her glassy eyes stopped me from closing the door right in front of her face. "I know you hate me right now and you have all the right to do that, but, please, let me explain to you the reasons why I've been so distant after what happened."

"Look Cari." I said looking away from her eyes and feeling the defeat take over my body. "I know you love Tyler and would do anything to make him happy, I don't need to hear that okay? Now, if you don't mind, I have a doctor's appointment and I need to find a way to get there, so..." I was about to close the door when she took a step forward and stopped me.