Darlene and I had been friends since high school. She was like a sister to me since we had gone through so much. We were both clowns when it came to relationships. However, we never let anything come between us. Men had come into our lives and left, but we were still close.   

When Darlene started dating Ian, things started to change. Whenever I would invite her out for girls’ night, she would either cancel last minute or invite Ian. I didn’t mind until I started being the third wheel every time we went out.   

Ian didn’t seem like a bad person to me, but he was too good to be true. Nevertheless, I was happy that my best friend had a man she loved in her life. As time went by, we started hanging out less. Darlene was always at Ian’s place or on vacation. I didn’t raise it as an issue, although I was still slightly disappointed.  

On a random Friday afternoon, she called me.  

“Hey Faith,” she said when I picked up the call.  

“Hey, Darlene,” I replied.  

“Ian and I are going out. Would you like to come?” She asked.  

I wasn’t in the mood to be a third wheel, but I knew I would feel bad if I said no.  

“Yeah, sure,” I replied.  

“Okay, I’ll text you the details,” She said as she hung up.  

She texted me the details, and I noticed that the joint we were going to was near Ian’s place. That meant I had to leave the house at 7 pm since the place was far. 

I finished up my work for the week and started getting ready. By 7 pm, I was all set to go, and I called an Uber. When I got to the club, I could see Ian but Darlene was nowhere in sight.   

“Where’s Darlene?” I asked him as I approached the table.  

“She’s running a little late, but she should be here soon,” He said as he pulled a chair for me to sit.  

I had never been alone with Ian, and I didn’t know him well enough to start any small talk.   

“So, Faith, is there someone you’re seeing?” He asked.  

“No, I haven’t met anyone yet,” I replied.  

“That’s good to know,” He replied.  

“Why do you ask?” I asked.  

“Darlene!” He said in excitement.  

I turned and saw Darlene coming toward us while smiling. She hugged Ian first, then me, before taking a seat.   

“Faith, how have you been?” She asked while signalling the waiter to come.  

“I’ve been okay, you?” I asked.  

“I’ve also been okay; It seems like forever since we hung out,” She replied.  

“I wonder whose fault that is,” I murmured.  

“Did you say something?” Ian asked.  

“No,” I replied with a smile.  

The waiter came over to our table and took our orders. Darlene, Ian, and I spent most of the night talking. Well, they did most of the talking while I listened. Darlene and I never got to catch up on what we had been up to, but I didn’t want to be petty.  

“Faith, let’s go dance,” Darlene suggested as the waiter brought our drinks.  

“What about the drinks?” I asked her.  

“I’ll watch them,” Ian said to me.  

I didn’t feel right leaving my drink with Ian since I didn’t know him well. However, I decided to trust him since he was my friend’s boyfriend. As we danced with Darlene, I noticed Ian staring at me the whole time. I didn’t think much into it and assumed I saw my own things.   

We spent the rest of the night dancing and drinking. Ian didn’t dance at any point since Darlene didn’t want to make me feel awkward. When the drinks kicked in, we decided to leave.   

Darlene and Ian took an Uber to Ian’s place, and I took one to mine. When I got home, I was so tired, so I took a glass of water and blacked out on the couch.  

The following day, I woke up and realized I didn’t have my phone. I thought it was stolen at the club, but I decided to check with Darlene first. Since I couldn’t call an Uber, I took a regular cab.   

When I got to Ian’s place, he told me she was running a few errands but would be back soon. I felt uncomfortable waiting for her at Ian’s place, but I couldn’t go home without my phone.   

Ian served me breakfast and went back into his room. I decided to watch TV as I waited. A while later, he came back wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. At this point, I was uneasy, but I ignored him.   

He came and sat next to me and tried to touch my thighs. I moved away quickly and confronted him.  

“What do you think you’re doing?” I asked in disgust.  

“Just give me a chance; I can make you happy,” He replied as he moved closer.  

“Darlene is my best friend, and this isn’t appropriate,” I replied, moving away.  

“She doesn’t have to know; I love her, but I want you,” He said.  

I stood up, left the house, and made my way to the gate where the watchman was. I didn’t explain what had happened; instead, I told him I was waiting for my friend. Luckily Ian didn’t follow me since he was in a towel.   

An hour later, Darlene came back. I was so glad to see her that I jumped to hug her before she stepped inside the compound.   

“Don’t touch me!” She screamed as she pushed me away.  

“What’s wrong?” I asked.  

“You were just waiting for the right opportunity to go after my boyfriend?” She asked.  

“I didn’t go after Ian,” I said.  

“Then why did you follow him into the bathroom?” She asked.  

“I’m the victim here; your boyfriend is the one who wanted me,” I said.  

“Why would Ian want you?” She asked.  

“I’m not going to take that offensively cause you’re my friend,” I said softly.  

“Consider our friendship done!” She said while walking away.  

“Then give me back my phone before you go back to that liar of a boyfriend,” I said in anger.  

She went to the house and came back in a few minutes.  

“Here,” she said while throwing the phone at me.  

The watchman was in shock, and so was I. Ian had managed to convince her that he was the victim, and she believed him. I had known her for so many years, and she took a man’s word over mine?  

I deleted her contact and her photos from my phone after that day. It was petty, but I knew it was necessary. A few months later, I got a call from a random number.  

“Hello?” I said as I picked up. 

“It’s Darlene,” She said. 

“How can I help you?” I asked her bluntly.  

“Ian cheated on me, and I just need someone to talk to.” She responded.  

I could tell she was fighting back her tears, and even though I wasn’t her friend anymore, I felt terrible for her.  

“Okay, talk to me,” I told her.  

She explained how she had decided to sleep over at Ian’s place, and his phone buzzed when he was in the bathroom. When she checked, she saw some messages from a lady, asking him when he would be free for her to come over.   

“I’m sorry for blaming you that day,” She said after finishing her story.  

“It’s okay,” I told her.  

“Do you think we can be friends again?” She asked.  

“No, I don’t. Our friendship already has a huge stain,” I replied.  

“Could you at least think about it?” She asked.  

“Okay, I will,” I said.  

“Thank you,” She said as she hung up.  

There was honestly nothing left to think about. She made a mistake, but if she had done it once, she would end up doing it again. I couldn’t risk letting her back into my life and going through that again. Some friendships have to end for you to live a peaceful life.