It was an oddly warm day for mid January. The wind had been howling all day long,
lifting tarp sheds, scaring neighbourhood dogs and making driving the icy roads
a difficult feat. It wasn’t usually this
windy in northern Saskatchewan, what with all the trees. As the wind blew on a sudden
thought crossed my mind, “This isn’t the only storm you will endure
today.” Odd. Odd indeed.
It was about 4 in the afternoon when that thought became something that
made sense.
She walked up behind me while I was moving some tree
branches that had blown in front of the old folks home. I didn’t hear her coming but I felt her
presence. It felt like red, hot, fire. I turned halfway around to look at her but
the wind carried my hair in front of my eyes.
By the time I had reached up to clear my view she had begun her
assault.Her words surged out like burning lava, pouring over me in waves. The accusations, the anger, the hurtful words. All the while the wind raged on, lifting our hair in uncontrollable twists and curls. The louder her accusations became the stronger the wind began to blow! Until I could take it no more.
I retaliated.
Over the wailing winds I matched her scream for scream, until suddenly she said something that made me stop. "You really hurt me, I thought we were friends." Everything seemed to grow quiet, the wind even stilled as we stood facing each other, short of breath and faces red. Had I really failed to notice how deeply I had wounded my best friend? What were we doing out here in the storm fighting. As the wind began to rise once again I looked her in the eyes and cried out from the depths of my heart, "I'm sorry! Forgive me!"
The tears happened simultaneously as we embraced each other, turning into sobs of regret and then sniffles of forgiveness. As we drew apart, I caught a look in her eyes. "What?..." I asked tentatively. "It's just...before...when I was so upset..." She stuttered. It was then I noticed the wind again as she continued. "I wanted to hurt you just as bad as you hurt me so I...well I wrote it on this piece of paper to give you." In her outstretched arm was a crumpled piece of notebook paper. I couldn't stop myself, I knew I would have to read that note. I slowly took the trembling paper from her hand and unfolded it.
When I looked up she was already gone. As the wind continued on in it's persistent drive I sank to my knees. I knew I would forgive her; there was no way I could hold it against her considering what I had done but in this moment it dug a hole deep in my heart. As I, once again, brought my hands up to control my windblown hair that warm, January wind took the paper from my hand and carried it away from me. Taking with it the two hurts that had been done...
"I went to McDonalds without you. Think about that next time you go for frozen yogurt without inviting me."
