It was now late evening, around 10:30. I was curled up on my bed while Lita was next to me in the fetal position. I could hear the rain falling againest the windowpane at my room.
"Lita", I whispered to her, "are you asleep?"
"No, Amy, I'm not", she replied as she turned to me, "I'm not used to getting to bed this early."
"Lita, I had wanted to ask you".
"What is it, Amy? Ask me."
"Lita, how would you feel about stay here with me and my mother?", I asked.
Lita looked at me and then turned her back and mumbled, "I dunno".
As she lay back down, tears filled my eyes. My body was limp and trembling. Suddenly the tears rolled down my face, falling on Lita's cheek.
Lita suddenly sat up and turned toward me, placing both hands on my shoulders,
"Amy", she asked softly, "Amy, what's the matter?"
I started crying uncontrollably. I covered my face as to not let Lita see me crying. "I just....I just....just didn't want to see you l-l-lonely, that's all." I hung my head, still sobbing uncontrolably.
Lita wrapped her arms around me, placed my head on her shoulder.
"There, there, Amy. Shhhhh. Don't cry", she whispered, "please don't cry."
I stammered while trying to hold back the tears, "Lita, you're my friend. I love you very much. I just can't stand seeing you in anymore pain".
"Oh, Amy," Lita cooed softly, " I know you only looking out for me. I appreciate everything you do for me. I'll be alright. Living alone isn't all that bad, really."
Lita then pressed me closer to her, "and I do love you, too, friend."
As the tears continued to fall, I couldn't get the words out to what I wanted to say.
"Amy, It's Ok", she whispered, "Shhhhh. It will be OK".
"Please, Lita. Please don't say that", I stammered tearfully.
"You....you don't have any brothers or sisters. Is that right?", she questioned.
I nodded sadly. "I have no brothers or sisters. Just mother and I. Father left us some time ago".
Lita took her hand and brushed my hair back with it, "I see now. You know, Amy, I'm an only child, too".
"You are an only child, t-t-too?", I stammered softly.
"Yes, Amy, I am. I understand what you're going through. Not having a sibling around the house, just to share things with, to talk to, to play with", she says, "but then again, there's always the other side of the coin where-"
"Lita, what did you mean by other side of the coin?", I demanded, cutting her off, "have you ever had times that the loneliness can hurt you to the point of being unbearable?"
Lita then placed both hands on my face, still stained with tears, "Amy, sometimes it sucks not having someone around at home. Even though I'm pretty capable of taking care of myself in a tough situation, being lonely can take a toll on me at times".
"So tell me why you won't accept my offer for you to stay with mother & I? My mother would love to have you around. Help with the chores, the cooking, the laundry, and you'll always have me when you need someone to talk to. And you can still continue to make more friends. I'll even introduce you to some of mine if you'd like."
Lita paused for a moment, looking at the TRF poster on my bedroom wall. Then looked at me and said, " Amy, it's about time you had a big sister."
My eyes lit up for a moment when I asked, "Do you really mean that? You will stay as long as you like?"
Lita smiled. "Yeah. Besides, that old apartment was getting a bit on the dingy side anyway. I could use a nice family atmosphere".
I took Lita on my arms and held her tightly, crying tears of joy, knowing that I not only have a best friend, but a big sister figure as well.
"Welcome to the family, sis", I smiled.