One Fall Day in Reality

            Claire didn't know when she had lost Jane.  It might have been yesterday, or two months ago.  Time moved so quickly these days.  The only certain facts were Jane's absence from the cafeteria at lunch and her constant desire to be left alone.  Nobody talked to Jane anymore, nobody wanted to.  Each time Claire had approached her, Jane's fantasy world had come between them.  Nobody except for Jane wanted to live there, so everyone stayed away.  Jane didn't appear to care.  She seemed content with her imagination; something Claire was beginning to think was harmful.  Jane did her schoolwork, but her grades were falling.  She never spent time with friends, not that she had any now.

            At the moment, Jane was sitting under a tall maple whose leaves had recently turned red with fall's chill.  Claire glanced at her cautiously while moving towards the school parking lot.  Should she try to talk to the other girl?

            "Jane!"  Claire called out before she had decided one way or the other.

            The other girl did not look up.  She was staring blankly towards the school.  Claire moved closer.  "Who is it?"

            "It's me.  Your best friend in the entire world, remember?"  Claire ran a hand nervously through her blonde hair.  "How are you doing?"

            Jane squinted up at her with cold blue eyes.  "You don't talk to me.  I remember that."

            The standing girl sighed.  "You don't talk to me either.  Jane, something has happened."

            Jane looked away from her.  "Aren't the maples pretty at this time of year?  Pity they don't exist where I live."

            Claire gasped silently and stared at her one time friend.  "What?  What do you mean?  You live three blocks from here."

            "Hum," the girl spoke nonchalantly.  "I suppose so."

            Claire stared around her in confusion.  "Jane, you're scaring me.  I think I'm losing you, but I don't know how to save you."

            "Really?"  The other girl did not seem at all interested.  Her voice was dull and unexcited.

            "Jane."

            The other girl ignored her.  The soft autumn breeze blew her silky brown hair around her petite face.  Finally, Jane stared back up at her companion.  "What do you want me to say?  That I'm sorry for doing what I love?  That I'm sorry none of you can ever understand?  That I'm crazy?  What?"

            Claire bit her lip in distress.  "I don't pretend to understand.  I just want to know what's wrong.  It's like I don't know you anymore."

            "You never knew me."
            "Yes, yes I did."  This time Claire was able to infuse some confidence into her voice.  "We were best friends.  We did everything together, went everywhere.  Cried together, laughed together.  I knew you.  But something happened.  Your imagination has taken over your life and I'm scared, Jane."

            The brunette frowned.  "What are you talking about?"

            "The make-believe world, it's taken over your reality.  It started out as an interest, then grew to a passion and now it's an obsession."  Claire spoke quietly.

            Jane stared at her sullenly.  "Well this world isn't all that interesting.  Nothing but algebra and coldhearted friends."

            "Coldhearted?"

            The other girl looked annoyed.  "Really, do you have to be so dense?"

            "I didn't know it was part of the job description," Claire snapped.  What was her problem?  Couldn't she see that Claire had nothing but good intentions?

            Jane stared at her with cold, but pitying, eyes.  "Go away.  It's too late for your meddling games."

            Claire stared at her old friend, confused.  Why did she feel scorn emanating from Jane's gaze?  "Too late?"

            The girl beneath the tree sighed.  "Sometimes it's over before it begins.  That's what happened to us.  The good times were only a dream."

            The blonde's breath caught in her throat.  "Over?"

            "Claire."  Jane studied her sadly.  "I've found my place.  You need to go find yours."

            "No!"  Claire refused to believe what she heard.  "You're losing your grip on reality.  It's all some fantasy life that none of us even understand.  I used to think you just liked the books and then the movies, but now I see you're trying to live them.  Wake up Jane.  It won't work.  Come back to us, to reality."

            The brunette stood suddenly.  "Don't control my life.  You don't even try to understand how important that world is to me.  Now go, before we both say something we'll regret."

            Claire started to slowly back away.  "You're crazy."

            "Maybe," Jane affirmed.  "Does that matter now?  Go and please try to forget about me."

            Terrified, tears suddenly sprung from Claire's emerald eyes.  "Friendships aren't supposed to end like this."

            "Maybe it never was friendship."  The other girl turned away slowly.  "Go."

            Claire stared at her in fear.  "I'm trying to help.  Let me help you," she pleaded.

            Jane spun swiftly to face her.  "Leave.  I'm sorry I'm not the friend you made me out to be, but you're no wonder yourself.  Did you try to talk to me earlier?  No.  So go, it's out of your control."

            The blonde flung a hand to her tearing eyes and nodded.  "Fine."

            "Goodbye, Claire."

            Claire stood frozen for a moment while choking back a sob.  Then, she turned and fled to her car in the school parking lot.  So it was over.  She should have been relieved now that she didn't have to worry about Jane, but she wasn't.  The reality of the situation was too much of a shock.  She'd never imagined their friendship would end.  Claire turned and pounded a fist into the side of her car.  "Why?"

            She received no answer but stinging pain.  She looked back at Jane, sitting under the red maple.  Sighing despairingly, Claire turned away.  The future waited while the past dissolved.