Miki Sampaio

Watercolor Blue

“We could at least try to talk about it.”

“Go away.”

“Come on, you know I’m sorry. It was never my intention to hurt you.”

Of course it wasn’t their intention. They never intend to do anything it seems. Never intended for her to like them, never intended to lead her on for months, never intended for it to end like this. And yet it did. 

She watched as the water dripped from the skylight above her head, forming a small puddle on the pink-tiled bathroom floor. It had been pouring rain since she ran in there, as if the sky was crying in an attempt to empathize with her. Her only consolation was that her cat, Bruno, had been sleeping in the sink when she went into the bathroom to get away from them. He was now curled up on her lap, purring gently, as she lounged in the bathtub. She knew how pathetic she looked, running away and locking herself in a bathroom to cry, but was currently too hurt to care. 

“Can you please be mature about this…”

“Just go home! I don’t want to talk to you about this right now.”

“Why can’t you be happy for me? You’re supposed to be my friend.”

She instantly stood up from where she was lying in the bathtub, disturbing Bruno who let out a disgruntled hiss in the chaos. She walked over to the bathroom door and slightly opened it before peering out at them. 

“You don’t get to call me your friend anymore, considering everything that happened.” 

“It’s not my fault you're delusional and thought I was in love with you or something.”

“That’s not fair. You act like you’re so innocent in this. Act like you weren’t the one who pursued me first, act like you didn’t lead me on knowing I was in love with you.”

“I told you months ago I couldn't date you, and you didn’t listen. You’re the one who chose to continue having feelings for me. I told you to turn them off when you told me you had them in the first place. I can’t date a friend, you know that. The thought of it makes me feel sick.”

“So why could you make an exception for them, and not for me?”

“It’s not the same. Life is easier with them than it would ever be with you.”

“You really believe that?”

“I do.”

“Get out of my house.”

They stood there and stared defiantly at her, refusing to move. She had always loved the way they stood their ground on things, but now it was making her furious. They had come over saying they needed to tell her about something, but she never imagined the something would be someone new. Someone she could never compete with. She slammed the bathroom door in their face and locked it before walking back to the bathtub where Bruno now slept. She moved him out and turned on the water, getting in once it was full, not even bothering to take off her pajamas. 

When she finally got out and opened the door, they were long gone, leaving nothing behind but the smell of their shampoo.

Miki Sampaio is a Native Hawaiian writer who is originally from Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu, but grew up all over Koʻolaupoko. She can usually be found curled up with a good book or showing someone who doesn’t care every photo of her cat she’s ever taken. “Watercolor Blues” is her first published short story.

Photos by staff