Breaking silence

We were all regulars at this place.

I considered her a big star at the mike as she belted out hits from the Carpenters, Helen Reddy, Carol King. I thought she was awesome, so confident of herself as she made the rounds - introducing herself to newcomers, catching up with news and gossip with the regulars.

I chose to be deaf when she would relish in revealing dirty little secrets of any and everybody. I chose to ignore her lurid re-telling of her sex life with the worthless bum that she so obviously adored. I told myself everybody enjoys a little juicy gossip to spice up their lives.

But I had to re-assess my favourable impression of her when she attempted to insinuate rivalry between friends when none existed. Initial mild annoyance quickly escalated to watchful alarm before eventually graduating to outright rejection of her from our lives.

I hear of her life unravelling. The bum was openly running around on her; her once illustrious career has stalled; she has put on a ton of weight.

I want to feel some sympathy. But she persists in pushing all the wrong buttons with us. She takes malicious pleasure in creating discord with semi-truths if not outright lies every chance she gets.

I see her now as an insanely jealous vile fat ugly unloved and unlovable old fool.

I finally accept the fact that she had always wished bad things upon us.

I find vindication in breaking silence today.