An Unfortunately Unbreakable Bond

by Mac Eaton

---

Hope loved her friend Ed. Ed had been a part of her life for as long as she could remember, but they only recently became good friends. Inseparable, even, you could say. None of Hope's friends or family, however, liked him at all. It’s understandable as to why; she bailed on her sister and hers tradition of Sunday morning breakfast so she could start running in the mornings with Ed; her friends rarely ever saw her because she continued to make excuse after excuse as to why she couldn’t hang out; Hope’s place at the table was empty at almost every family dinner.

Hope and Ed weren’t dating, but their relationship was like watching a mentally abusive boyfriend eat away his girlfriends self-esteem from the inside out. Hope became so ashamed of her body she began to only wear baggy clothes. Her anxiety worsened everyday, and eventually, her only comfort was her instigator: Ed. Hope was stuck in a vicious cycle that no one, no matter how hard her friends and family tried, could pull her from. They all knew Ed was bad for her. Because of him, the sparkle in her eyes dissipated, the fire in her soul was burning out quickly, and the bubbles in her personality were floating away.

It quickly became apparent that the only person who could help Hope was herself. Her parents spent countless nights crying because they could no longer recognize their daughter. Her sister’s heart rested in pieces because her once best friend wanted nothing to do with her. They all wondered if Hope would ever come back.

Ed controlled everything about Hope; what she ate, who she spoke to, what she wore, when she worked out. Eventually Ed’s thoughts merged with her own.

Then she hit a breaking point.

Ed made her believe she was worthless and crazy.

And poor, poor Hope. Because it would have been so easy for her if she could just cut Ed off. But she couldn’t. Hope was stuck with him.

Forever.

Because Ed was her. A self-destructive aspect of her subconscious. Ed was never real; just a voice inside Hope’s head she wasn’t strong enough to kill.

photo credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/25473554133870855/