CROSSROADS & CONFIDANTES

Entering the café, I found a familiar spot amid the busy scene, feeling a surge of anticipation.

When I settled into the chair; the weight of this proposition pressed down on me. I breathed deep and looked around and while taking in the cosy interior, I found comfort in its familiarity. The soft glow of the lights created a warm atmosphere, easing my nerves.

But each minute I waited for Liz, my mind circled back to the big question, and the knot in my stomach tightened, intensifying my unease. I needed a reliable friend to help me navigate the situation. Liz had always been my rock, offering unwavering support and wisdom since our college days. I trusted her to provide the insight I desperately needed.

The minutes dragged on, heightening my anxiety.

Fidgeting nervously, I traced patterns on the table, my heart racing. Just then, Liz arrived with a warm smile, bringing a sense of relief.

"Hey there," she greeted warmly. "Sorry I'm late, traffic was terrible." Returning her smile, I launched into a big hug, that almost threw her off-balance. "Wow, you sounded troubled on the phone, but now I'm worried, do tell."

As Liz sat hurriedly into the chair across from me, her eyes widened with anticipation. I couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude for her presence. With a deep breath, I plunged into the heart of the matter, laying out Mr Rowley's proposition with as much clarity as I could muster.

Liz listened intently, her expression shifting between confusion, almost cursing and excitement several times as I recounted the details of the proposal. I watched her carefully, looking for any sign of judgment or disapproval, but all I could find was a flicker of excitement in her gaze.

As I finished speaking, there was a moment of silence between us, broken only by the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of cups in the café.

Then, with a wide-eyed expression, Liz reached across the table and gripped my hand tightly, her excitement palpable.

"Wow," she exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief as if she had made a great effort to form words after my recount. "That's... incredible!"

"Yeah, it's... it's a lot to take in" I nodded.

Liz squeezed my hand again, her eyes shining with anticipation.

"There's a lot I could say… But trying my best to be objective, it all comes down to this: This could be your big break! The chance to step into a whole new world of opportunity, to carve out a future that's entirely your own. It's... it's like something out of a movie!"

That was not the initial response I had pictured in my mind, I knew Liz, but I guess my fears got the best of my intuition. Her enthusiasm was infectious, filling me with a renewed sense of hope and possibility, a feeling I had not even considered since I came out of Mr Rowley's office.

For a moment, I let myself bask in the warmth of her excitement, revelling in the idea that maybe, just maybe, this crazy proposition could lead to something extraordinary, and a certain calm: the weight of all my debt could be off my shoulders for good, something I could not have anticipated would happen, at least not so soon.

"I know you have a day" Liz started. "But don't disregard this because of what people might think, you know I understand you better than anyone" She gave me a knowing look. "And I know that neither you nor me would take this proposal if it involved any more than acting, however, this is not the case…"

I paused, trying my best to re-order my racing thoughts.

"Right. But it's not only because of what other people might think – and while yes, I admit I don't love the fact they will think of me, or treat me, like a gold digger – the thing I'm truly worried about is about my future chances; with my dreams of my business, hell, even if I want to form my own family someday. I've been fighting so much to make my own path, to separate myself from the past mistakes my parents made… Well, you know better than anyone."

While hearing my doubts, Liz's expression softened, her eyes reflected a depth of understanding born from our years of friendship.

"Hey, I get it," her tone was gentle yet resolute. "It's natural to worry about what people might think, especially when it comes to something as unconventional as this. But you can't let fear of judgment hold you back from seizing an opportunity that could change your life." Liz paused, but seeing as I was still processing, she kept going, in a softer tone "And as for forming your own family someday, well, who's to say this can't be a stepping stone toward that too? This is your choice, no one else's. You're not losing all that you fought for by taking this chance… If anything, this opportunity is here because you've been fighting so much to regain control of your life."

Her words are laced with optimism, making my multiple worries feel less daunting, but there's also a reminder that sometimes, the path to our dreams may require us to take unexpected detours.

But it might be worth it…

Right?

I nod, my gaze thoughtful as I absorb Liz's words. "You're right," I murmur, a sense of resolve creeping into my tone. "I can't let my fears dictate my decisions. Who knows? Maybe this crazy proposition could, potentially, turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to me…" I paused for a second. "But I still want to sleep on it, I haven't fully decided yet."

"That's only natural, I just gave my two cents but this is not something you jump on without thinking it through. And hey, if you end up deciding you'd rather sleep on my couch, that's fine with me too."

With Liz backing me up, I started to feel a bit surer of myself. Whatever's coming my way, I know I can handle it, thanks to our friendship and the belief that sometimes, the strangest opportunities can lead to the best things.

But as the minutes passed, reality started to set in again. The decision was mine to make, and no amount of Liz's excitement could change that.

Still, there was something I wanted to know, out of curiosity.

"So, what do you think I should do?" But I corrected myself before I let her talk. "Wait… More like, what would you do if you were in my shoes?"

Liz leaned back in her chair, her brow furrowing in concentration.

"Well, it's not an easy decision, that's for sure. But ultimately, I think you need to do what feels right for you. Follow your heart, and trust that everything will work out in the end. That's for your first question, as for your second… If it was me, well, it's a little different as you know I don't share your crazy business dreams or, you know, your parent's mess to deal with. I aim for something simpler and for that, I wouldn't need any of this… But if I was in your shoes, with all that debt that was unjustly thrown into you, I'm almost sure I would take it. If the world made me struggle, it can also provide a little relief, uh?"

Her words resonated deeply with me, cutting through the noise of doubt and indecision, she made it sound simple, quid pro quo. 

"You're right," I murmured, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "I need to trust myself, my heart, on this."

This conversation was more than I even hoped, I didn't know how, but I didn't feel that heavy weight on my stomach anymore, and I was incredibly grateful for having someone like Liz with me. My hand moved on its own, reaching across the table to grab hers in a gesture of deep appreciation.

"Thank you," I say, my voice hoarser than intended. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

In truth, I was saying more than that, and by the looks on her face, she knew it too. Liz and her family were the only ones who I trusted with my burdens and my past, I don't like asking for help from anyone, but I know I can always count on her, and she won't judge me, and because of that, I learned that, sometimes, I had to put my stubborn ways aside and ask for her help, and she was always happy and ready to provide it, as I was for her.

Liz squeezed my hand gently, a bright smile on her lips. "Hey, that's what friends are for," her tone warm and reassuring. "No matter what happens, I've got your back, okay?"