That afternoon the café was really quiet. You could hear every sound, like the cups clinking and the fan humming, there were people talking at tables but it was not very loud.
Ella and Sheila were sitting across from each other, they were not saying anything, they just say , the silence between them did not feel any thing like peaceful at all.
Ella and Sheila had been friends for a time, they had laughed together talked all night and shared secrets for many years, but that day something was not right.
Sheila was the first one to talk, "Ella you cannot just pretend like everything is okay " she said.
Ella leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "I am not pretending I just do not think it is a big deal like you are making it seem" she said.
Sheila looked upset, She was trying not to say something, but you could tell she wanted to say more "You just disappeared Ella " she said. "You did not text us for weeks, and now came back and you are acting like everything is normal?"
Ellas voice was firm. "I needed some quality time to myself " she said. "Is that supposed to be a problem?"
Before Sheila could respond, someone approached their table.
“Wow… this looks intense.” It was Tory.
He pulled out a chair and sat down casually, glancing between the two of them, “Should I be here, or am I interrupting something serious?”
Sheila sighed. "You are actually right on time " she said.
Tory raised an eyebrow. "Is it that bad?" he asked.
Ella shook her head, "Don't mind her she is just worrying herself too much " she said.
Sheila ignored Ella, “Let me ask you something, If someone you care about just cuts you off without explanation, how would you feel?”
Tory paused, thinking for a moment. “Honestly? I would feel confused… maybe even hurt, Ella scoffed. “Oh, great, now we are taking opinions?”
Tory looked at her calmly. "I am just answering your question " he said. Then he asked Ella " Why did you disappear?"
Ella hesitated for a second before answering, "I just had some personal things going on actually " she said.
Sheila shook her head. "You always say that, you never explain what is going on, you just leave " she said.
Ellas voice got a little louder, "Because I do not want to bother people with my problems na , isn't that obvious ?" she said.
That surprised both Sheila and Tory.
Sheilas voice was softer0She still did not back down. " Shutting people out does not make things better, It just makes people feel like they do not matter to you " she said.
Tory nodded slowly. "Sometimes people want to go through times with you rather than being pushed away " he said.
Ella looked down at the table, she did not seem confident anymore, "I did not think of it that way " she said.
There was a pause, It felt less tense and more like they were thinking about what they had said.
Sheilas voice was quieter now, "I am not asking you to tell me everything I just do not want to feel like I am not important enough to stay " she said.
Ella looked up at her, you could see the guilt on her face, "You are important I just handle things differently " she said.
Tory leaned back in his chair. "Maybe that is the problem we just handle things differently " he said.
Neither Ella nor Sheila argued with that.
Ella nodded a little, "I will try to do. I cannot promise I will be perfect but I will try not to shut you out like that " she said, Sheila nodded slowly, "That is all I am asking " she said.
Tory smiled, he could tell the atmosphere had changed. "Well I think that is progress " he said.
Sheila laughed a little and even Ella managed a smile.
The tension at the table started to go and it was replaced by something softer, Understanding or, at least the start of it.
Sometimes all it takes is someone Perspective to make people see things they could not see before.. Sometimes all it really takes is a conversation.
Image Credit: Chatgpt
