Billy. Emily’s
best friend. Never before have I felt so utterly conflicted about a character
that I have created. Sometimes I love him. Particularly when he’s helping Emily
get through a hard time. Sometimes I hate him. Particularly when that darkness
arrives and he shows signs of spite and malice.
They have
been friends forever. The vast majority of Emily’s sweetest and happiest childhood
memories revolve around Billy. Emily talks of their banter and easy silence. He
understands the delicate intricacies of her dysfunctional home life. It all
sounds so perfect on paper. And it would have been. If he hadn’t have developed
a new set of romantic feelings towards her. And it is this fact that ruins
everything between them.
Here’s an
excerpt:
My earlier hopes of being friends
with Billy had crashed and burned. I didn’t see a way back now; he had done an
extraordinarily spiteful, nasty thing. I would never be able to trust him
again, or be close to him. It was sad, but it was his fault, and I hoped that
the vague platonic love which still, somehow, remained could be flushed down
the River Esk, because I didn’t want it any more.
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