Three years before, we were very close. We had the bond of a protective brother and a spoilt sister always looking for ways to either get money from the big brother, or whine over the littlest things, or make his life hell with my silly jokes. He never complained though because according to him, he doesn’t have a kid sister, so I was a very good one.
His words nudged me on, and I kept disturbing his life. It was fun though. He would tell me everything about his life, family, friends, his crushes, and his love life. He is a very fine and intelligent man, so he had a lot of women around him, and I would tease him with them. I would tell him, “Bro, you are not getting any younger oooo. You should just fall in love with one of these beautiful people around you so that the others would stay away”.
We would go out, have fun, but never discuss anything about me. I am quite uptight when it comes to divulging things about me except the ones that’s obvious. Like she’s stubborn, strong-willed and so on. I loved hearing that. This big brother didn’t seem like someone I could tell about my life because he had people all around, and I wasn’t certain he wouldn’t use my life as an example whenever he was talking because he is a motivational speaker with a big mouth.
Our friendship was flourishing until one day, he invited me over. Earlier, he had called me about his sick mum and asked me what he should do because he had spent a lot of money, yet nothing changed, so I gave him a very useful piece which calmed him. It was not the first time that happened, and I guess that was one of the reasons the friendship was alive. I was always there for his emotional troubles.
The day he invited me over, I had thought it was because of his sick mum or something, but I got there, and as usual, started blabbing away. Then, he gradually moved close to me and tried to do the unthinkable with me.
At first, it felt like a flash of a dream. It didn’t feel real because this was someone I had known for more than two years and he never for once mentioned having any other feelings aside that of the friendship and siblings-like relationship. By the time I understood what was going to happen, I struggled to free myself, and off I ran, outside and to the park. It was almost late and it would be late before I get home, but I would rather take that risk.
On my way home, he called until I turned off my phone. When I got home, he kept calling, but I wouldn’t answer the call until I blocked his line. Thereafter, I blocked all the new lines he called with for the next two years.
The third year when he reached out with another strange line, he apologized for his actions and wanted us to return to the way we used to be. I knew that was very impossible.
In life, there are some bridges you are meant to destroy without looking back, however, there’s the saying of forgiveness from afar. Forgive their wrongdoings, but don’t let them get close to the level where they would be able to repeat their wrongs or even do worse to you.
Later, he would send me opportunities he knows I qualified for, and I would apply, but our conversations never passed that. We could be at the two ends of the bridge and maintain our relationship from there. After all, that’s how some relationships are meant to be.
Images are from MetaAi.