Fragments of a Broken Woman

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 6

Day after day, messages and calls came from both Camille and Stephan, one after another. But I ignored them. I cut off all contact for an entire week.

A thousand thoughts swirled in my head: regret, fear of losing my friends, fear that nothing would ever be the same… or even that I had crossed a line of no return.

The more I thought, the deeper I sank. But there was one thing I couldn’t deny: I missed them.

One afternoon, Camille showed up at my house.

—Hi…

—Hi. Why the hell haven’t you answered my calls?

—Are you mad at me? Did I do something to you?

—No, not at all… I’m just a little embarrassed, I guess.

—I feel like I messed up epically, and now I don’t know what to say.

Camille looked at me closely.

—Have you talked to Stephan? —she asked.

I shook my head.

—You should…

—He’s been acting like an i***t since that night.

—I still don’t know what to say to him.

And it was completely true. How was I supposed to look at him now?

—I’m scared of losing both of you… you, Camille, and Stephan. That everything will feel weird because of one mistake.

Camille stared at me for a moment, then smiled softly.

—Sophie, if it was a mistake… who the hell is going to remember? We’ve been friends for over six years. Eventually, we’ll get over it.

We laughed together.

—Hey… so, how’s the kissing?

I threw a pillow at her.

—It was your first kiss, right?

I nodded, trying to stifle my laughter.

—And… did you like it?

I nodded again, this time letting a huge smile escape while covering my face with my hands.

—That’s my girl —she said, laughing with me.

I think that’s why I love Camille so much. She’s like a sister to me… she never judges me.