Cadence
introduced Trey
to her parents
and her grandmother.
I told her,
as I realized
how serious things are
getting between them,
that this was
not the wisest
decision
she's ever made.
She said
she wants them
to be involved in her
life;
to feel involved.
I see it
as her big
middle finger
to them.

She tried
to warn him,
but nothing
could have
prepared him
for her mom's
polite voice
as she told hi
he's
a very nice boy, but
to please
stay away from
her daughter.
Nothing can fix
her dad
telling him
he's ruining
his daughter's
future
by distracting her.
Nothing can change
her doctrinaire grandmother
chastising him
for taking place of
family,
which is
"The only thing
that matters."

I avoid commenting
that he could be
family someday.

Cadence
tries to
defend her
family
from me,
as she relays
all of this,
but her arguments
fall short
when Trey texts
and says
he needs
some time
to think.

It's then that
I tell her
she can't keep
keeping secrets,
and I need to know
why her grades
are crashing down.
I need to know
what is going on
with my
best friend.
She points
it back at me
and accuses me
of hypocrisy
and asks why
I didn't tell her
how bad
things were getting
until I showed up
with a
nasal cannula.

She makes
a fair point.

I try to
work this out,
but her
frustration is
insatiable.

She erupts,
pent up
emotions from
everything
spewing out
of her.
She can't
hold it all in
anymore.

I understand
but that isn't
enough.