‘If I pay you, will you please pretend to be my friend, just this week?’

Alex was distraught. He gazed into Willow’s eyes as she pleaded, his eyebrows furrowing as he observed the growing frown lines on her pale forehead that was now gathering beads of sweat. At first he thought it might be raining, but one quick look to the sky dampened hope and he soon realised it was Willow’s anxious state that was causing her hair to become wet and greasy.

He tapped his sneakers against the cement, noticing how worn out they’d gotten. He made a mental note to buy a new pair with the money he’d saved up all year. ‘Alex?’ He looked up again, reminded of the question he so desperately wanted to forget. He needed the money, he knew this, but he couldn’t take from Willow. Especially not to be her friend.

His fingers twitched, eager to brush Willow’s hair from her face and reassure her that she didn’t need to ask for such a thing, he’d do anything to make her smile. Alex felt his twitching hand jolt as it was engulfed by a soft yet clammy presence, he looked up to see Willow’s wide eyes now watering, he couldn’t see her like this.

He pulled his hand away from Willow’s and just shook his head, spinning on his rugged heel as he walked away, unable to look in her eyes. He ignored her final cries and consumed himself into an entirely different world as he pulled out his earbuds.

‘She’d be better off without me.’ Alex thought. ‘I’m doing her a favour.’