67. My only best friend.

TASHA

Damn it.

I feel like hugging her pain away, but I know she still has more to say. And I let her.

She wipes her cheeks. "Everything I did to match up with you never worked. My grades. My body. Nothing worked. I became so bitter and so resentful. I hated myself. And you." She sniffs. "But then, one day, Jason glanced my way. The way he looked at me made me feel…...important. Seen. Desired. Like I could finally have something of yours to myself."

I watch her as she sighs out deeply, more tears forming in her eyes. "Jason and I started hanging out behind your back. It was all fun and games, until it wasn't anymore. I felt…..I felt like he loved me. Maybe not as much as I thought he loved you, but I thought he at least felt something for me. And I felt that was enough. For me."

A tear drops onto her cheek. She does not bother wiping it away. "After that day you caught us, I felt….powerful. When Jason announced to the whole school that he was breaking up with you, I fucking felt victo