Hair Tie

“Where did it go?” She demanded.

Startled, he could only stutter out, “Wh-where did what go?”

“My hair tie, you asshole. You stole my favourite one.”

“I..?” He began, but then he started to remember, “Oh, that. The one I stole from you like a year ago?”

“Yes.” She pouted.

“Why do you only care about it now?” He asked, rather perplexed.

“Because it was my favourite one, I already told you.” She repeated as if that explained everything.

“Yes, but I’ve been wearing it on my wrist ever since I stole it, and you didn’t have a problem about it until now?”

“Exactly. You were wearing it. Why did you take it off today? I know I haven’t talked to you for a while, but I didn’t think that you would stop being friends with me.” Her eyes glistened, she was serious about how much the tiny hair tie meant to her.

Starting to grasp the situation he said, “No! That’s not what happened. It broke. I’m so, so sorry.”

“You broke it?” she asked almost in tears.

“No. Well, yes. But, no, I-I didn’t mean to.” He’s dug himself into quite a deep hole now, “What I mean is that I used to stretch it and twist it, when I was stressed, it gave me something to do. And I mean, I was reminded of you, every time I got stressed, it helped...”

Tears began streaming down her face.

He didn’t know what to do, he didn’t realise that hair tie would spell the end of their friendship.

She brought her hands behind her head, and with one tug she pulled her current hair tie out, and handed it straight to him.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered.