Thank You

It's okay.

Her breathing was shallow, and her fingers shook. Her eyes laid uneasily on the letter that lay on the passenger seat. Why am I here?

It was Ryan's end of summer party, a reunion of the graduate 2014 class.

A foot touched the ground, her fingers leaving the wheel. It's been a while since she saw them; never truly being one of them, she was casted away after they all graduated.

"You invited her? Why?" The screeching made her pause, the wall hiding her figure and her shoulders tensed.

"It's a polite gesture, Lillian. Hope used to be my best friend," it stung her. It really did, even though it was the truth. Ryan and her used to be so close, and then life happened and interests changed.

"Besides, she probably won't come. Why do you even care?", Hope heard the carelessness in his voice, and bowed her head to hide her trembling lips. What friends do I have?

"You know no one likes her," she conviced herself that the roaring sound of the music was the cause of her heated skin and erratic heartbeat. Hope leaned in to listen to a response, but the silence that followed made her stomach drop. Should I leave?

The letter in her hand felt heavy. She bought the card as an afterthought, the words written in it were in her heart for a long time. After many calls and excuses, it was time to say goodbye.

"Oh, you came." Ryan sounded stunned and surprised to her ears, with wide eyes and gaping lips.

Hope drew a smile to her lips, and tilted her head in greeting. "I surprised myself too."

The hug felt fake and forced to her, after what she just heard. Maybe it was just her feelings that made the exchange feel detached, but it made her heart uneasy and her resolve harden. "I was going to stay," a pause. "But it's late and I know where I'm not wanted." Her eyes dropped to the letter, and Ryan shook his head to deny her claims.

But she knew better.

"Here," her letter was her last words to him. She hoped that he would actually read it. And as she made her way to her car, her heart felt lighter but her shoulders were tense. How would he react?

"You were a good friend, Ryan.

Thank you for the fun times."