The Secret

Chapter 2

Chapter 2Brilliant rays of afternoon sun pierced the darkened room, pinning Colleen’s slumped form to the couch. Quickly moving back to her, I held her face up to the light. She squinted against the brightness and her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy from crying. Otherwise, her face was unmarked.

“Colleen, have you been hurt, honey?”

“Define hurt.” she said in a flat tone.

“Godammit! This is no time to get cryptic!” I unfastened the top two buttons of her pajama shirt and examined her neck and shoulders. Nothing. I rolled up her sleeves and the hems of her pajama pants. Nothing there either.

Colleen didn’t resist my inspection. In fact, she seemed almost oblivious to it. It was like I was handling a rag doll. “Satisfied?” she asked when I was done.

The next moment seemed almost surreal. Slipping from the sofa to kneel on the floor in front of me, Colleen actually clasped her hands together, as if in supplication. With her head lowered, she whispered hoarsely, “If I beg, will you go? Please, Alejandra?”

My mind screamed “What the f**k!?” This was like something out of a cheap melodrama. First of all, only once or twice have I ever heard her use my full name. And even then, it was done mockingly. Secondly, the spitfire I’ve known most of my life would never EVER get down on her knees for anyone. Not even as a joke.

Cradling her face in my hands again, I turned it to look up at mine, but she refused to meet my gaze. “Colleen, am I your friend?” I never imagined I would have to ask her that question.

“Yes.” she said simply, with her eyes closed and a tear spilling from beneath her lashes.

“Do you love me?”

Her eyes suddenly flashed and the lethargy that had gripped her vanished in an instant. Sweeping her arm across the coffee table, she sent the ice cream container and spoon flying. “GET OUT!”

Hastily rising to her feet, Colleen careened around the living room, knocking dirty plates, cups and utensils from their perches. “GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!”

So far, nothing had shattered on the apartment’s plush carpet, but she was rapidly approaching the kitchen, where the harder surfaces would be less forgiving.

“Colleen.”

Her only response was more airborne receptacles.

“COLLEEN!”

She whirled to face me, standing in place, panting from her exertions.

“You win,” I said. “I’m leaving. For now.”

She did not move as I retrieved my purse and retreated to her front door.

I had been terrified she was going to hurt herself, but the minute the door closed behind me, I regretted my decision to go. She’s my friend. The dearest friend I have. I shouldn’t have abandoned her for anything.

In the hallway outside her apartment, I tried to figure out what to do next. Should I try to get back in there? She was unlikely to open the door again and my earlier threat to kick it down had been hollow. My legs were nowhere near that strong nor her door that flimsy.

I decided to seek my mom’s advice.