My Friend

Why did she have to pick him? Out of all the guys in the world that wanted her, to be with her, she had to pick him? I know she’s heard the rumors, and I know she knows his reputation, but it’s not stopping her from making such a huge mistake. 1

She’s smart, pretty, and popular. She has all the friends in the world, including me. At least, she used to have all the friends in the world. She did until she started dating him. She started to change after dating him. She wasn’t the same, and it was only me who seemed to care.2

Three months has gone by since she began to date him. She’s changed so much. I’m not even sure if she’s the same girl I claim to be my best friend. The tank tops and mini skirts she used to wear are gone, replaced with sweaters and jeans that she used to despise. Her once beautiful, vibrant, blue eyes are now lifeless. She doesn’t look me in the eye anymore. She won’t even talk to me, at least not like she used to. 3

She cringes at the slightest movement, the slightest sounds. Everyone except for me seems to have left her, given up on her when they know she needs them now more than ever. Are they afraid? I try to approach her, to talk to her. I try to ask her what’s going on, even though deep down I know the truth. Again its lies that everything is fine, although I know deep down all she wants to do is cry. 4

She tells me to leave her alone, that I’m accusing wrong. She says I don’t have a clue. She may be right, but I do know that I want my best friend back. I see her with him, how wrong he is for her. I see the way he treats her and I wonder why in the world she deals with him. He treats her like dirt. Everyone within a hundred miles can see that, everyone except for her.5

I’m not sure what to do anymore. I tell her that she needs to leave him, that what he’s doing is wrong. She tells me it’s not my business, it’s not my life. She tells me to leave her alone, that once more I don’t understand. I can’t just leave her alone though. I can’t just let him ruin my best friend’s life. 6

Then comes the night I shall always remember. You’ll never know the damage that was done to me when my teenage eyes saw what they did. I walk into the silent house, trying to find my best friend. Her dad had called, worried sick. He said she was on a date, and had yet to return. I assured him everything was fine, that I’d go and get her…that she could stay with me that night.7

I walked into his house, my eyes widening at the sight. There I saw my best friend lying unconscious, a shattered lamp close by her. It was obvious there had been some sort of fight. 8

I tell you this story, to keep it from happening to you. A girl, my best friend in the world is dead now, because of some freak who thought he had the right. The right to hit a girl, the right to abuse such a young and innocent woman. I tell you this with a point, a purpose. I tell you so you can open your eyes. If you know someone, a friend like mine, who is in this position, then please tell someone. Please do something, anything. I tell you this because next time, you could save a life. 9