Mira and Rowan have been friends, for long as they can remember. Their mothers would often say that Mira and Rowan came together like a set. There are lots of pictures of Mira and Rowan wearing the same blankets. In these pictures Rowan is holding onto Miras sleeve. Mira is laughing because Rowan is pulling her.
Mira and Rowan were very close when they were little kids. Rowan would tell Mira to crawl fast. Mira would. Wave her arms around. Then Mira would catch up to Rowan in her way. Mira and Rowan did everything together.
Rowan was an impulsive girl. She would grab a toy. Then just drop it. Then she would run to the side of the room. She would call out to Mira to come and follow her. Mira was not, like Rowan all. Mira was very careful. Thought about what she was doing.. Mira always followed Rowan. Sometimes Mira would. Stumble.. Rowan was always there to help her up. Rowans hand would catch her. Steady her. They had a lot of fun together. They would. Fall down and get up again. They just seemed to know what the other was doing. Rowan and Mira just fit together well.
The girls were always getting along. Sometimes they had little fights. Rowan would pick up Miras stuffed animal by accident. Then Mira would take it back from Rowan. Yell at her in a high voice.. Just a little while later Rowan and Mira were hugging each other again. Rowan and Mira did not stay mad, at each other for long.
When Rowan and Mira were five years old they made their special world. Rowan and Mira picked up rocks and leaves. They made the backyard into a kingdom. Rowan and Mira even fought dragons that were not really there. Rowan was always the leader. Mira was always the one who followed. Mira carried the things Rowan and Mira found like pretty rocks and shiny leaves which they called treasures.
One afternoon the kids built a fort in Miras living room. They threw blankets over the chairs. Pillows all over the floor. Rowan really wanted the door to the fort to be on the side.. Mira said no it has to be on the right side. The kids stood close, to each other talking in low voices until Rowan started smiling.
"Fine " she said, "we will go left.. You have to watch the right side for us. The right side is very important."
Mira. She said "Deal".
When they were kids Rowan was always doing things without thinking. Mira was always careful. This actually worked well for them. They could tell how the other person was feeling without having to ask. For example Rowan could see when Mira was not talking much and knew something was wrong. On the hand Mira could see when Rowan was getting impatient and wanted to do something. Rowan and Mira just knew these things about each other.
When the kids got to school their friendship had become even stronger. Rowan and Mira walked home together every day. They sat together at lunch. Rowan and Mira could understand each other without saying a word. If Rowan raised an eyebrow Mira knew what it meant. If Mira let out a sigh Rowan knew exactly what she was thinking. Rowan and Mira could read each other like a book.
Rowan started to see things in a way but she did not know what it meant. When Mira laughed at something Rowan felt a weird feeling in her stomach. It was like a jump. When Mira pushed her hair back Rowan felt a feeling, in her chest. It felt tight. Mira did not see any of this. She was too busy looking at people. Rowan felt this way around Mira.
Their friendship was really nice. It felt like a friendship. They would often have arguments and share secrets with each other. They also had times when they felt comfortable, with each other. The friends had accidents. Got hurt sometimes like when they fell and scraped their knees.. They always laughed about it. They had disagreements but they would make up right away. Their friendship was great.
The summer before she turned sixteen something changed. Rowan felt this thing for Mira that was more, than being friends. When Rowan looked at Mira her chest would feel all tight. If they touched by accident Rowans heart would beat fast. Rowan did not know how to tell Mira about these feelings. She was really scared that she would lose Mira altogether.
It was a Thursday when everything fell apart. Mira and Rowan were walking home from somewhere the wind pulling on Miras hair and Rowans hair the sidewalk was all messy, with leaves that had fallen from the trees. Mira had her hands stuck in the pockets of her hoodie. Rowans hands were clenched into fists. They kept brushing against her legs and you could tell she was really tense.
Mira said that I am snapping at her a lot. She said it very softly. She told me that my behavior is really hurting her feelings when I snap at her like that. Mira feels that I am snapping at her a lot.
Rowan said "I am not snapping" and he replied like that because his jaw was tight and his voice was sharp. Rowans voice was really sharp when he said that he was not snapping.
Mira. Turned around to face her. "You are hiding something " Mira said. Something is going on Mira thought to herself. Her shoulders were all hunched up. You could see her breath, in the cold air. Mira looked at her with a face. Something is going on with Mira and Mira wanted to know what it was.
Rowan shook her head. Kicked a stone down the path. She said "Maybe I just care much about things." Rowan thought that this was her problem. She cared much about the people and things, around her. Rowan felt that caring much was what made her feel sad sometimes.
Mira said "Do you care about me?" She sounded really confused and a little scared. Her voice was shaking a bit. Mira asked this question because she wanted to know if anyone actually cared about her.
Rowans chest felt tight and it hurt a lot. He said "I do not know how to say this I just cannot explain what is going on with the situation of Rowan."
Miras chest felt really heavy. Her heart was beating very fast. She said "then do not", in a voice turned around quickly and walked away. Rowan saw Mira leave her shoulders dropped down. Her chest hurt a lot. This was the time Rowan felt like she had really lost Mira.
After that Rowan and Mira slowly stopped being friends. They did not have a fight or anything. They just slowly drifted apart. Classes and lunches and the places they used to hang out became really awkward for Rowan and Mira. Rowan had feelings for Mira. She did not say anything because she knew it was hopeless. Mira on the hand did not like the weird tension between Rowan and her and her own mixed up feelings made her pull away, from Rowan even more.
Rowan remembered every moment of her life with Mira. The fireflies that came out in the summer the forts they built on afternoons the scraped knees they shared the secrets they whispered to each other.
Those memories of Mira and her were what made the heartbreak so hard for Rowan. It was a heartbreak but it consumed her completely.
Rowan did not want to give up on Mira even when Mira pushed Rowan away completely and that made things really tough for Rowan and her feelings, for Mira.
Three years later Mira got a job at a marketing company. She felt really nervous. She was also very excited. Mira had no idea what was going to happen to her. The thing is, Rowan was already working at the marketing company.
When Mira walked in Rowan was standing with her back against a pillar looking really relaxed with her arms crossed and one foot resting on the wall. The moment Mira entered the room Rowans eyes were on her. Miras breathing was not steady her chest was going up and down in a way. Mira stopped moving she held her bag strap tight and let out a slow breath to calm herself down. Her eyes were, on Rowan Mira was looking at Rowan. Miras heart was beating fast she was trying to slow it down by breathing. Rowan was still looking at Mira.
The woman said hello. She was being really neutral, about it. She just kept on walking past Rowan.
Rowan said "hey" in a voice. She tilted her head. Leaned a little bit towards Mira. Her fingers touched the wall it was a move but it looked casual. Rowan was watching Miras every move her eyes were fixed on her. Rowans gaze was, on Mira.
From that day on Rowan was everywhere. She would show up near Miras desk all the time leaning in a little and pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Rowan asked Mira a lot of questions that she already had the answers to. Rowan also gave Mira advice, on things that Mira already knew about. Rowan even took her breaks at the time as Miras breaks so Rowan and Mira would be doing the same thing at the same time.
Miras shoulders got really tense. She clenched her jaw hard. Her fingers started to curl around the pens without her realizing it. Every time Rowan came close to Mira her pulse started racing like crazy. Mira felt this way because Rowan was, near her.
Male coworkers began noticing Mira. Flirtations, jokes, lingering smiles. Rowan's jaw tightened, eyes narrowing, posture sharp. She warned them subtly, confronted them quietly, and when necessary, fired them. Mira watched, heart pounding, jaw tight, fists clenched. Rowan's obsession was suffocating.