-Maya lay on her bed all curled up. Her mother: Katy then came in with a small tray of food.
Katy: Hey baby girl. Brought you some food. You hungry?
Maya: No.
-Katy slowly sat next to Maya on the bed and began to speak.
Katy: Maya, I have to admit... I'm not the best parent. I spent way too much of your childhood not with you. So I don't think I've developed the best mom instincts in the world. But I think they're developed enough to know that something's wrong. So tell me Maya... what's wrong?
Maya: It's over. My entire friendship is over.
Katy: What friendship are you talking about Maya?
Maya: Me and Riley. It's completely crumbled apart.
Katy: What could possibly have happened between you and Riley that would've crumbled your friendship? You love Riley.
Maya: Yeah. But I just realized how much I may really love her. Mom... I did something to Riley. I was just really happy for her and I wanted to let her know how I felt and then I... I...
Katy: You what baby girl? What happened?
Maya: I... I... Oh man. I don't know if I can say this.
Katy: Why? Because you don't want to tell me.
Maya: No. Because if I say what happened with my own words, it'll truly be real now. But... mom... I... I... I kissed Riley!
Katy: ...Wow. Um... Wow.
Maya: And so now it's all over. Our friendship is over.
Katy: Maya... why does kissing Riley equal your friendship being over.
Maya: Because romance only leads to heart break in our family. Grandma was friends with Grandpa for years but as soon as they got married, they got divorced. You and dad were friends for a long time but as soon as you let romance enter the picture, you two ended up breaking up. And that's how it's gonna be with me and Riley. I introduced the ultimate unstable element in my relationship with Riley. And it's all destined to crumble apart now.
Katy: Maya, listen. Your grandma and I made mistakes. But I have to admit something. We weren't very close with the men we married.
-Maya suddenly sat up as she looked at her mom.
Maya: What?
Katy: Yeah. I mean... I thought I was in love with your father when I married him but... we just liked the idea of being liked. We just wanted to feel touched, pleasured, and be given attention by the other. Your father wasn't my best friend. I just liked having him by my side. When we broke up, your grandma told me it was the same mistake she made with your grandfather. And me and your dad weren't friends for a long time. We were together for less than nine years before he left. It wasn't romance that was the unstable element in our relationships Maya. It was the foundation of our friendship from the very beginning that was unstable.
Maya: So what are you trying to tell...
Katy: I'm trying to tell you that me and your father didn't know each other well when we jumped into our romance or even what romance was. But I've learned since then with Shawn what real romance is. It involves being with somebody you understand, you trust, you feel safe with, you can talk to, you can support, and most importantly: you know is someone that is completely loyal to you. Oh, and romance also doesn't let little problems or errors in communication ruin anything.
Maya: So... are you saying that me and Riley...
Katy: I don't know how to advise you in this situation baby girl. Because I'm honestly just as confused as you are in this matter. I'm only just learning what romance is for the first time in my life now. But when I first jumped into romance, it was with a man I had barely knew for just two years. You and Riley though have known each for more than ten, and you two know each other better than anybody else in the world. If only one of us is to make a smart choice in romance soon, it's more likely to be you. Because you know the person on your mind so very well.
-Maya then hugged her mother.
Maya: I'm sorry for everything mom.
Katy: No. Don't be sorry. Because despite all of the mistakes I made, I still wound up with you baby girl. That is what's most important to me. I'm just sorry I didn't learn more about this topic so I could better help you through this. I'm so sorry you're so confused right now.
Maya: No mom. I... I don't think I'm as confused as I was now. I... I need to talk to Riley.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Author's Note - Feel free to leave comments and/or send me messages with feedback for this tale.