Occasionally,
I think back to those times.
Friendship spoiled like aged milk.
Curdled putrid,
far beyond its best-used-by date.
I was impressed at first,
by your confidence, laughter,
your louder-than-life self.
We became best friends,
roommates two years in school.
Slowly I realized
you craved attention.
Demanded the spotlight.
Used people
to make yourself the star.
Life’s circumstances
sent us to different cities.
We married, had children,
successful careers. And then,
we were thrown together again.
You relocated to where we were.
Kids in the same school, same grades,
same interests. Old times linked us
in others’ minds,
at church and kids’ events.
But you lived in the Heights,
we lived in the Flats.
You paraded that, flaunted it.
I was okay with that,
merely irritated.
Your husband
exhausted by your demands,
your goal to shine,
became more than irritated.
Driven to depression and anger,
he fled to the arms of another.
So you, ever the diva, consumed by ego,
picked up a knife, stabbed him.
Just once.
He gave you the spotlight.
He died.
On parole, you called me.
Went on and on
about his indiscretion.
Claimed it was self-defense.
Practiced your defense on me.
I hung up that day. Done.
You went to prison.
I went on living,
loving my husband, my family,
and our life.
Just shows you I supppose,
some friendships
were never meant to be.
Written for dVerse where today we’re asked to a) write about friendship and b) begin our poem with the first line of another poet’s poem posted on dVerse. My first line, “Occasionally” is from Christine Bolton’s Senryu. Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
lillian the home poet 
Lillian ~ this is such a crazy story – WOW!
❤
David
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It is. But sadly, it’s true.
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This seems so farfetched, probably no one will realize it’s true!
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Yup.
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Wow, Lill, an epic sorry tale! I like where you went with this one, starting with ‘Occasionally’ – a great word to start with. I love the phrase ‘friendship spoiled like aged milk’, and the description of the friend’s confidence, and how it grew out of proportion. I assume it’s fiction – or is it?
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Sadly, a true story.
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Oh my goodness!
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Wow Lillian, I was really drawn in by this, a mounting nimbocumulus thunder anvil-cloud, and was relieved it was “only a story” – until I read above that, sadly, it was true. I sigh with you and the weight you had to bear – and then, wisely, refused to carry any longer.
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Thank you, Kathy. Yes – a very very sad thing indeed.
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A sigh and a hug, Lillian
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Thank you. I got over it a long time ago….but then I’ve written about it so I guess it still festers.
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What a story Lilian especially as it is true – how very sad ❤
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What a story Lillian. So sad that it ended that way for your friend but we all make our choices in life. And those choices determine the path, which may be different from ours. Thanks for sharing!
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Oh my. What a story. Great read but sad.
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Oooh….. I had a person like that in my life… and I am so grateful you chose yourself and life…. The lessons we learn along the way!!! 💚 and now we know that energy… and may we forever see it, and walk away from it.
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Wow! A very sad story, Lillian. Hope it is fiction rather than truth. Sounds like a person to avoid for sure. Well done.
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The unexpectedness of this friendship is poignantly narrated. Wow!
Much💜love
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Lillian, some friendships are toxic! And truth can be stranger than fiction! Glad you finally severed ties.
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I am glad you kept a safe distance, I am pretty sure she is a queen in the ward by now. Some people just want to be in the spotlight a bit too much.
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