Scarlet’s face filled with disbelief and anguish, built up the nerve to slap Buddy across the face.
“Are you insane?!” She screamed as Buddy shockingly put his hand over his cheek. “Who the **** do you think you are?” she continued. “You think you have the right to come over here NOW and question what we have?
Buddy looked confused.
“Don’t you get it Buddy?” she yelled with intensity. “YOU choose to let this go! Scarlet stood there for a moment feeling the overabundance of emotion stir up within her.  
“You cannot come back NOW and try to feel something between us.” Slowly she looked deeply in his eyes where she once felt comfort and said, “I was in love with you since the first day I met you in college.” Tears started welding up in her eyes and her words came out shakily. “I just didn’t know it until I lost you.”
Buddy stood there, silent and ashamed. Scarlet burst into tears.
“You hurt me more than anyone ever has and I’m still here!” She shook her head in embarrasment.“I wasn’t just another one night stand Buddy, I was your best friend.” Her soul wept. “I have to go. I hope you find what your **** looking for.” Scarlet left the bathroom abruptly leaving Buddy standing there alone. The next thing she knew she was on a flight heading to San Francisco.

An entire year had past, and within that time Scarlet had produced her most brilliant pieces of work to date. Her photographs were on covers of magazines and her everything she created was selling like wildfire. Scarlet was well known throughout San Francisco and was even voted, "The Most Talented Woman Under 30" by 7X7 Magazine. It had taken a long time to get over everything that had happened between Buddy and her but time healed her wounds and she had moved on, happily and boldly.

One late afternoon, while the city was thriving, Scarlet met up with her best friend Jamie at a nearby café. They had arrived together and sat near the window where the sun was pouring in the vivid colors of the afternoon . They hadn’t seen each other in months, mostly because of Scarlet’s schedule and Jamie’s new born baby taking up the majority of her time.
“It’s so good to see you honey.” Jamie said as they made themselves comfortable. “You look great.” She continued.
“Thank you, you too!” Scarlet replied.
“Listen Scarlet, before anything, I have to tell you that I am so proud of you. Your photos are really taking off. This is some of the most amazing stuff I’ve seen come out of you.
Modestly, Scarlet grabbed Jamie’s hand. “You are too sweet, you know that.” Quickly changing the subject, Scarlet remarked back, “So tell me, how is your baby?”
“Oh, she is a handful.” Jamie replied. “But not so fast… Scarlet, how are you doing? Jamie looked at her with serious eyes. She always had a way of prying and finding out the truth from her. Putting all facades away Scarlet spoke truthfully knowing exactly what she wanted to hear. Jamie knew what had happened a year prior, but hadn’t caught up with her since.
“It was hard Jamie. Well, hard at first. The entire way back here I was a wreck. I think I drained my entire body from tears and probably scared some people with my puffy eyes.” She gave a small smirk. Jamie listened patiently.
“When I got back, I was more frustrated than anything; questioning myself and what went wrong. But I let myself grieve and grieve slowly. I focused on my work and honestly…. it was the best therapy. It’s weird, but I owe all of that to Buddy. Had it not been for him, I wouldn’t have felt so connected with my work.” Scarlet realized that heartache was, at times, the best medium for creativity.
“Have you talked to him since that night?” Jamie asked.
“Last I heard he moved to London” Scarlet replied.
“Married?”
“Married.”
“Ah! What a prick!” Jamie said loudly. “He was always such a little ****.”
After a moment Scarlet spoke some more. “Buddy and I had an amazing connection and no one could ever take that away from us. But, I realized that he will only stay in my memory, where he belongs.”
Scarlet sounded so sure of herself. She had finally made peace with the reality of Buddy and her. She was truly looking towards the future in a positive light. How could she not? She was at a happy and content place. “I just wish for his happiness.”
“That is very brave of you Scarlet.” Jamie said.

With that, Scarlet’s cell phone rang. An unknown number popped on the screen. A strange feeling came over her entire body. She stared at her phone for a few seconds then finally answered,
“Hello?” she said.
“Scarlet?”
It was a familiar voice.
“Yes?” She replied with apprehension.
“This is Melanie sweetie.” A crack in her voice started.
It was Buddy’s mother.
Scarlet looked at Jamie’s hazel eyes as the blood from her body left her face. Simultaneously, the world became silent.