**A Friendship Tested**
Katie and I have been friends since schoolyear seven, to be exact, when she moved to our neighbourhood. Back then, I didnt have any close friends in class. Most girls flocked around the schools beauty, Lucy Malton, whose father was a professor. The rest of us, me included, kept to ourselves.
I never bowed to Lucy, but I didnt pick fights eitherneutrality suited me. While her circle sized up the new girl, weighing her family background, I took Katie under my wing. Naturally, I filled her in about Lucy and her followers.
*»Why are you alone? Protesting something?»* Katie asked me one day.
*»No, I just like my own company,»* I shrugged. *»But if youd rather be with them, I wont take offence.»*
She chose me. We werent bullied, just overlooked. I showed her around the school, warned her about certain teachers, and briefed her on class dynamics. Incidentally, Lucy, the professors daughter, never followed in her fathers footstepslast I heard, she worked in a boutique and pretended not to recognise me.
Katie was cleverer than me, prettier tooor so I thought. As a teenager, I hated everything about myselfmy weight, my too-large chest, my short legs. My messy curls stuck up in all directions. A proper ugly duckling. Meanwhile, Katie had smooth blonde hair, blue eyes, the perfect figureeverything I wasnt.
Years later, she confessed shed envied *me* back then.
We became inseparable. We even planned to attend the same universityme dreaming of becoming a surgeon, her pushed by her mother towards economics. We argued, stopped speaking for days, then made up because we couldnt stand being apart. In the end, we each followed our own paththough we met less, we talked for hours when we did.
In her second year, Katie fell for a boy on her course and wouldnt stop gushing. I barely had time for loveLatin and anatomy were hard enough. By third year, she had an abortion. Her parents never knew. The fourth year brought another pregnancy. I disliked the boyfriend, begged her not to marry him, but she wouldnt listen. Her parents made sure she wouldnt be a single mother.
In my sixth year, I decided surgery wasnt for megastroenterology suited me better. Less pressure.
Two years passed without seeing Katie, until we bumped into each other in London. Shed gained weight, her belly roundedwas she pregnant again? I didnt ask. She pushed a pram with a little girl in pink. Noticing my glance, she confirmed the pregnancy.
*»My husband wants a boy.»*
She was surprised I was still singlethen admitted shed envied me in school, called herself a wallflower, rushed into marriage fearing no one would want her. What a fool. We promised to stay in touch.
A year after the baby came, her husband left.
*»He called me fat, a cow. Said I trapped him with kids. That I disgust him…»* she sobbed.
*»You shouldve told me sooner. Id have helped you lose weight,»* I scolded.
She looked dreadfulsweats, hair scraped back, her once-bright eyes dull.
*»Divorce is hard, but you cant let yourself go,»* I said gently.
*»Easy for youstill pretty, still free,»* she snapped.
I didnt take offence.
Her kids grewNickel started school, while Lizzie took an interest in boys. I had flings, but nothing serious. Fate, I supposed. Katie and I met occasionally, but life kept us busy.
Then came a medical conference in Manchester. A man caught my eyeAlexander. We shared a hotel, even a restaurant table. He mentioned a new clinic opening in my city, a colleague heading it.
*»Ive heard of it,»* I said.
*»Would you recommend I take the offer?»* he asked.
*»Your choice,»* I replied neutrally.
On the last night, we talked over wine. When I checked my watch, he was pulled away before I could say goodbye. He never asked for my numbermaybe he assumed wed meet again. Or maybe he had someone. Either way, I left.
*»Hell be surprised when Im not at breakfast,»* I thought bitterly. *»Pity it ended before it began.»*
Two months later, Katie called, excited.
*»Somethings happened. You sound thrilled,»* I said.
*»Come over and see,»* she teased.
I brought sweets for the kids, wine for us. Katie was radianthair styled, weight lost.
*»Youre in love,»* I guessed.
*»Ive met someone…»* She sighed dreamily.
As she described him, I pictured Alexander.
*»Hes perfect,»* she gushed.
Nickel was at his grandparents; Lizzie was out with friends. Time flewI felt old. Maybe I shouldve had children sooner.
*»He just started at our clinic…»* she mentioned casually.
*»Waityou work at a bank.»*
*»Not anymore. Better pay at the clinic.»* She waved a hand. *»So, Im leaving the office with files, and he offers me a lift. Carries my bag upstairs, I invite him for tea…»*
*»And?»* I pressed.
*»Nothing yet. But soon.»*
*»So, nothings happened?»* I hid my relief. *»Whats his name?»* I asked, already knowing.
*»Alexander. Alexander Alcott.»*
Ice flooded my veins. Fates cruel joke. Katie babbled on how kind he was, how shed invite him to her birthday
*»And hes single? Odd for a man like that. Maybe theres something wrong with him?»* I added poison to the honey.
She shrugged. *»Youre just jealous. Youll seeIll marry him.»*
Devastated, I wished her luck and left.
At her birthday, I found him there. He recognised me instantly, rushing over. Katie watched, jealous.
*»I took the job because of you,»* he admitted.
*»Ill think about it,»* I said vaguely.
Katie dragged him away. I slipped outwhy fight over a man?
Then he chased after me.
*»Why did you leave?»*
*»You know Katies my friend. And shes smitten with you.»*
*»Theres nothing between us. I only gave her a lift. But Im glad I cameI moved here for you.»*
He walked me homestill, no number asked. My phone buzzed with missed calls from Katie.
*»I didnt expect this from you,»* she screamed when I called back. *»You stole him!»*
*»We met at the conference. Hes just lonely here»*
We argued like schoolgirls.
*»Let me have him,»* she begged. *»Youre beautifulyoull find someone. This might be my last chance.»*
*»Are you sure he wants you? He followed *me*.»*
*»Thats not your concern. Just stay out of it.»*
I decided to step back. Alexander wasnt the only man alive.
Days later, he appeared at my clinic with flowers.
*»Katie and I talked. Shes my friendI wont fight over you,»* I said.
A week later, Katie visited.
*»He likes you,»* she admitted. *»I wanted revenge at first… but forcing it wont help. Dont you dare refuse him for me.»*
Relief washed over us. We drank, cried over lifes twists, and parted as friends.
Alexander and I grew close. He proposed within months. Katie attended my weddingwith a date of her own.
I got pregnant quicklyno time to waste. Katie soothed my fears, stayed my friend. Wed survived the test. They say friendship between women lasts only until a man comes between them. Ours endured.
