The Choice
578 Words
2023-12-09
“Are you sure about this?”
“...Yes. I need to do this, for myself. ” she replied, visibly shaking, holding a vial in her hands.
After a moment of silence, you let out: "Okay... I support your decision. I know you've probably put more thought into this than I can even imagine."
As you say this, you feel a weight in your chest. You don’t want to lose your best friend but, at the same time, you know just how long she’s been yearning for something more, something different. Even if it comes at the cost of her memories.
She idly swirls the potion around before saying: “I think I'm ready. Thank you for sticking with me through this. It makes me feel happy knowing at least one person I know wants to stick around ‘til the end.”
“Amelia… of course. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here, with you, right now.”
She opens up the vial and drinks the potion. You embrace each other, waiting for it to take effect.
While you embrace her, you notice some changes coming in. Fur sprouting all over your friend’s body.
“Looks like it’s starting”, you say, ruffling her newfound fur.
You take a step back to get a better look at your friend, doing your best to be brave for her. You notice tears welling up in her eyes.
She looks at you, seeming hesitant. “Hey, can you promise me something?”
“What is it?”
“Promise me you’ll let me go once this is over. Once I don’t remember who you are.”
A knot forms in your throat. You still manage to let out a few words. “Of course…”
You sit in silence with your friend, waiting for the changes to come. Her ears move on top of her head, becoming triangular in shape. She loses her balance and falls on all four, where she is met with brand new paws. You notice a few tears dropping from her eyes but, judging by her new tail that is quickly wagging, they are tears of joy.
Her face shifts outwards, bringing sharp teeth to her new mouth and a wet dark nose to her snout.
She’s turning into a wolf. A beautiful wolf with white fur and some orange/brown accents.
She attempts to tell you something but all she manages to get out of her mouth is a few whines.
You gently pet the top of her head and say, softly: “Hey. It’s okay. Everything is going to be alright.”
You sit as she lays her head on your lap. You pet her soft fur, waiting for her memories to go. Waiting for instincts to take over.
It feels very.. bittersweet. Saying goodbye to your friend. Friend that you never had the courage to admit your feelings to. Friend that you were hoping to grow old with. You figure now’s your last chance to tell her. “I love you.”
Her ears perk up and she starts to turn her head to look at you, only to suddenly get up and back away from you. Her eyes having shifted from their usual bright blue colour to a darker yellowish colour.
You did not see your friend in those eyes. Only a scared beast.
So, as you promised Amelia, you get up, heart heavy and tears welling up in your eyes, and slowly back away from her, giving her plenty of space to run off and leave.
Plenty of space to be her true self.