Daria
October 9, 1985
"Eddie and Nico first met in kindergarten. They became fast friends. Eddie was an only child while Nico was the oldest of four," I said, taking out a toy ball Eddie gave Nico in Grade 1. It was a birthday present. "They'd been friends for as long as I could remember."
I don't remember anything from when Eddie and Nico became friends. Dad told me they'd gotten along so well Nico once told him he wished Eddie was his brother, because that's what he was like to him. I don't think Dad ever thought Eddie would eventually turn his back on Nico. In some ways, I think Dad saw Eddie as a second son.
"Somewhere down the road," I continued on, "Eddie started telling Nico stuff like he didn't want to be his friend anymore because he wasn't manly enough. I don't know when that started but Dad says it was most likely Grade 6. Arwa agrees. I was in kindergarten around that time so I don't remember a lot of it and neither does Frada."
Kindergarten
"Nirvana," Dad says. The light outside my door is on. Dad doesn't know I'm awake. "I think something's wrong with Nico."
"What happened today? I'm sorry for going off all of a sudden. My client wanted to meet with me."
"It's alright, love. Nico hasn't been talking a lot lately. He seems more sullen and withdrawn, and he doesn't want to spend time with us. That's not like him."
"Perhaps Nico's just not having a good week. He'll be better soon."
"At that time," I began, "I didn't really think a lot of that one conversation. After Nico died I remembered it. I asked Dad about it later on. He didn't tell me a lot, but I still remember what he said.
"You weren't that old at the time, Daria," he said. "If you were older, you would have noticed that Nico began to avoid hanging out with us. He would lock himself up in his room and not come out for hours. He wouldn't even eat dinner with us either. He started eating less and grew thinner. I knew something was wrong but Nico refused to reach out to me and Nirvana.
"In hindsight, I didn't pay attention to the signs. I wasn't good enough of a father to Nico or you three. You three are my reason for existing."
"There's something about us being his reason for existing that sticks to me," I said to Aly.
"Maybe it's because you're his daughter. Children are the most important things to their parents," Aly suggested. Whenever I think back on that conversation, I always remember what Aly said. She was right.
Children are the most important things to parents.
"There's another story I'm going to tell you," I said. It had only been a moment, but it felt like an hour. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you this earlier, but it happened at Nico's funeral. This was after you left."
"Daria, is that you?" I can't believe who I'm looking at. That bitch. Anna.
"What are you doing here?" What right does she have to be here?
"I'm really sad Nico died." I can hear how fake her voice sounds. If she was actually sorry, she wouldn't have even thought of showing her face here. She called herself his girlfriend, but knowing how she treated him, I don't think she even has the right to call herself an acquaintance.
"No. You're not," I snarl, "if you really loved Nico, you wouldn't have cheated on him. I don't know what you're doing here."
"Why are you being ungrateful? I got bored with Nico sometimes. I had certain needs, and Nico wasn't comfortable talking about them. That's why I cheated. It's not a big deal. When you actually get a boyfriend, you'll understand what I mean. You get bored with boys sometimes. You're being disproportionate."
"Excuse me?" I...
I don't know what to say.
"No." I finally work up some words. "You're ungrateful. Nico was too good for you. You could've just broken up with him. I could say a thousand things but I don't want to waste my time. Get out. I don't want to see your face again."
I still don't have any regrets.