The Memoir Of Ms. Butterfly

I hadn’t thought about you in a while. I’ve learned to tuck specific memories into quiet corners, not because you don’t matter. But today, while cleaning my room, I found something that pulled you right back into the center of my thoughts.

It was a list. Our list. The one we made of things we’d do “if we ever got the chance.” I laughed when I saw it—because one of the things on it was us finally stepping out of the friend zone. You used to joke about it, and I’d laugh, too. Not just because it was funny, but because I believed we’d have more time. More moments. More chances.

I always told you that the best of friends make the best lovers. You’d roll your eyes and grin, but I meant it. I wanted more than friendship, but I wasn’t willing to gamble what we had to test what I felt. You told me to wait until you were ready. And even though that disappointed me deeply, I respected it because your friendship meant everything.

Now that you’re not here, I don’t doubt you made the right call. Maybe we were meant to stay in that space—where laughter lived, safety existed, and love didn’t need labels to be real.

Still, I wonder what crossing that line would’ve felt like. Just once.

By: Ms. Butterfly Genesis