Don't Reply

Written for 2 Week Drabble Wars; International Women's Day.

Task: Write your character doing something good/good for/good to someone.

Dialogue Prompt: "When people put you down enough, you start to believe it." Pretty Woman.

Lavender poured a generous amount of wine into their glasses as she read the letter. She'd popped round to Parvati's house to offer her moral support, as Justin had left her for another woman a few weeks ago. Being a survivor, Parvati was putting on a brave face, but Lavender knew her best friend too well and didn't fall for the act. This was tearing her apart, and Lavender would be there to pick up the pieces.

Parvati took a big gulp of wine from her glass. "What do you think? Should I send a response, or ignore her?"

Lavender gathered her thoughts before answering. In her opinion, the girl who was now shacked up with Justin only wanted to create more drama between them. Perhaps she was curious and wanted to know more about the wife of the husband she'd stolen, or maybe she found domestic life boring now that she'd won her prize. "I think you should ignore the silly bitch. Her only motive is to get you to respond, and then she'll paint you as the crazy ex-wife. Not getting a response from you will drive her crazy."

Her friend seemed surprised by her response. "But she says that she's willing to answer all the questions I might have. This might be my only chance to get clarity, Lavender."

"The minute you contact her you give her status, and that's what she's wanting. Do you think that she will give you honest answers if you send a letter back?"

Parvati sighed and rubbed her eyes wearily. "Deep down I know you're right, but I so desperately want to send a message back telling her what I think of her."

Lavender's heart broke for her friend, and she worried about whether she was getting enough sleep since Justin had left. "Has she contacted you before?"

"Yes, but I decided not to respond, and Justin told me I was a cold bitch when he picked the kids up. Apparently, she was upset at my lack of a response."

"He called you a cold bitch, when he walked out on you and his two children? How dare he do that! Please tell me you didn't let him get away with that?"

Parvati looked nervous at the angry look in her eyes. "When people put you down enough, you start to believe it."

Lavender reached for her friend's hand and clutched it tightly. "Listen to me; you are not a cold bitch. If anyone is a cold bitch, it's her for breaking up a family; he isn't much better either."

"You think I should ignore her?"

"Yes, and I believe it will be fun to write out nasty responses, but we won't send them. How does that sound?"

Parvati giggled, "So I should write everything I want to say on a piece of parchment, but never send it?"

"Exactly."

The two women had a great time writing a response, but they agreed never to send them.