Present – Afternoon
Escapism. A word that meant slipping away from reality, chasing a place where everything felt lighter. For Ashley, that place was a game—the open world of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Her day off usually looked like this: curled up on her couch, console in hand, in the game climbing the highest mountain with a rocket strapped to her back. The soundtrack swelled as the sun set across the virtual sky. Somehow, it felt more healing than the real world ever could.
What a joke… pixels heal me better than people. The thought made her laugh under her breath.
Buzzz… buzzzz… buzzzz.
Ashley groaned, pausing her game. "Who's the human being ruining my peace now?" She rolled her eyes, reaching for her phone on the coffee table.
Texting on the phone
Nate: wya?
Ashley: home 🎮 y?
Nate: boressss 👎
Ashley: 🙄
Nate: meet me at the bar, same time as usual. it's on me 😌
Ashley scoffed, smirking. 'On me'? Yeah right. That guy couldn't treat a puppy without whining about it.
---
A few hours later, Ashley pushed open the bar door. As expected, Nate was waving his arm in the air like she couldn't see him.
Seriously? I'm not blind. She rolled her eyes but felt her lips twitch upward anyway.
The bar itself was cozy, dimly lit with warm yellow bulbs glowing against rows of bottles. A jukebox hummed softly in the background, playing songs from decades ago. Groups of regulars sat in their usual spots, voices low, as if the bar itself demanded quiet respect.
Ashley slid onto the stool beside Nate with a long sigh.
"As usual?" Nate asked with a grin.
"Yeah."
"Hey, hey, hey…" He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "There's a tea behind that sigh. Spill it. What's up? Don't tell me you asked Sarah to run away with you from her arranged marriage." He elbowed her playfully.
Ashley clicked her tongue. "Run away your ass."
If only I had that courage…
Nate just laughed. Their friendship had always been like this—comfortable, unshaken, like family. "Friends since diapers," they called themselves.
The bartender approached them for taking the order, before Nate could answer, Ashley cut in. "One vodka, one beer."
Nelly, the bartender—and owner—arched an amused brow. "Starting strong, huh? Okay, hon."
Ashley managed a sheepish smile. Why did I even say vodka? I'm not even that type. What am I trying to prove?
When Nelly walked off, she glanced at Nate, and the two of them cracked up in unison.
"You really are starting strong," Nate muttered, half-worried he knew Ashley wasn't much of a drinker. For her to order vodka right away meant something was eating her alive
Ashley looked away, fingers tightening on the glass. Yeah. Because I'm falling apart and don't know how else to hold myself together.
---
"Sarah's getting married, huh…" Ashley muttered once their drinks arrived, her voice bitter.
Nate nodded quietly, letting her continue.
"I'm pathetic." She swirled the vodka, eyes stinging. "Last night… I wanted her to say no. To tell me Mark doesn't deserve her. That jerk doesn't even—ugh. But what can I do? I'm just her best friend. I don't have the right to say anything. And she loves him…"
Her chest ached as tears blurred her vision. Say it, Sarah. Just once… say you don't love him. Say you see me. Please.
Nate leaned his chin on his palm. "You know what I'm gonna say."
Ashley glared. "No."
"Yes. Confess."
She groaned. "And then what? Tell her to forget me? Pretend we're still normal after that? Its not the right time, Nate."
No right time… and maybe no right me.
"You've been giving me the same excuse for years." Nate rubbed his forehead. "Listen, even if she doesn't feel the same, I'm sure she wouldn't throw away your friendship. Sarah's not like that."
Ashley stared at her glass. The reflection in the amber liquid looked back at her, sharp and lonely. Not like that… but what if she is? What if knowing ruins everything?
Finally, Nate sighed and said, half-serious, half-joking, " Fine....let me tell you something..." a pause for a moment as Ashley hoping might have a great idea from Nate "just give up and find someone else already."
Ashley smacked his arm. "Wha—hey! I was joking!" Nate winced dramatically, rubbing his arm."Joking your ass. Keep it up and I'll bury you."
Then his tone softened. "Ash… in the end, it doesn't matter what happens after. You can't control her. You can't control the situation. The only thing you can control is yourself. How you face it. How far you're willing to accept it. There's no right time. There's just time. It's up to you to do it or not"
Ashley looked at him, her heart aching but lighter somehow. A small, warm smile tugged at her lips.
"…Thanks, idiot."
Even if I don't believe it yet… I want to.
For that night, Nate's words were enough to keep her pain from swallowing her whole.