Back in high school, my best friend, Jake, and I were inseparable. We did everything together—late-night study sessions, weekend hangouts, and of course, prom. But that night was special for another reason: it was when I first realized I had feelings for Mark, who would later become my husband. Jake was right by my side that evening, laughing and dancing like always, but I never thought twice about how he felt.
Years later, Mark and I were happily married, and one evening, we decided to have a little nostalgia trip by watching our old prom tape. I invited Jake over, thinking it would be a fun way to relive those carefree days. But when I mentioned the tape, Jake’s face went pale. He mumbled some excuse about needing to leave early and practically bolted out the door. I was confused—this was our shared memory. Why would he avoid it?
Curiosity gnawed at me. Later that night, Mark and I popped in the tape. At first, it was just as I remembered: the music, the awkward dancing, the bad tuxedos. But then, as the camera panned across the dance floor, I saw it—Jake, standing alone in the corner, staring at me. Not just a casual glance, but a deep, longing look, one filled with unspoken words.
My heart sank. All these years, it had been right in front of me. Jake had feelings for me back then, and maybe even now. Suddenly, his strange behavior, his distance after I started dating Mark—it all clicked.
I felt a wave of guilt and sadness. I never knew. And now, I wondered if our friendship had been built on something more complicated than I’d ever realized.
