Mai Week 10: Bestie-Boo? More like Bestie-Who!

 Bestie-Boo? More like Bestie-Who!

You have a best friend. A real best friend. A bestie-boo. Someone who you trust and love and you would give anything to protect. They grew up with you and you have shared so many sweet childhood memories saturated in honey-coated naivety and blossoming youth. They are the type of person that will follow you to the end of the earth and accept you to the fullest—regardless of the circumstances. This best friend is one for the ages. 

Then one night they come to your house—like they always do —and borrow your car because they know you’ll be okay with it. They always borrow your things because you're that close! Then they go out on a midnight ride with their partner and dabble in a little mischief while you sleep peacefully, prancing around in dreamland with your bells and bows and rainbow toes, perfectly unaware of bestie-boo’s adventures. Everything is fine and dandy in the world and you are your bestie are ready to take on life together.


Then...bestie gets into a crash. A real, bad crash. Completely totals your car and ruins your insurance to devastating levels. And PLOT TWIST! That person they crashed into? Yeah, it was your dad. He’s dead now. Dead or severely injured, it doesn’t matter, either way, he’s not getting up anytime soon. 


And so you awake from a peaceful dreamland, a little lethargic, but ready for another beautiful sunny day with your bestie-boo, and you pick up the phone to tell her all about your lovely dreams. With joy in your heart and light in your life, you get ready to—


“I’m sorry.”


“What?”


“I’m so, so sorry.”


Uh Oh! Now that’s a dilemma!


Has bestie-boo just become Ex-bestie-boo? Will you forgive her? What will you do?


This is someone you have grown up with and truly love with all your heart! Are you able to forgive them? Is an “I’m sorry” really that powerful? Now, we are raised to appreciate the simple beauty of peasantry and manners, with “I’m sorry” accounting for any and all mistakes in our young lives. But as we progress and the stakes get higher, is “I’m sorry” really enough to make up for anything? Does it have any power? In situations like abuse, hate crimes, and murders, people are often pressured into apologizing even if they feel no remorse, only furthering the insincerity of the phrase. Not only that but the victims are pressured to forgive and move on with their lives. Think of the stereotypical phrase “Forgive and Forget.” I, for one, endorse grudges. If you do something seriously wrong then you need to be seriously punished! If someone says “I’m sorry” and they really hurt me, well, I’m not going to just forgive them. I mean, generally, I am pretty agreeable, but to me “sorry” doesn’t mean anything. A change in behavior does, not words.


Oh, and if this is a little abrasive, well...sorry!


You and Bestie-Boo: Hindustan Times


Comments

  1. GalileaFebruary 5, 2024 at 5:17 PM

    Hello Mai. I loved the analogy you used. I have a best friend, or as you call it, I have a bestie-boo. Throughout the first half of your blog, I was thinking about her and inserting her into your story. I liked how you directly talked to the reader, it felt personal and relatable. You never used any pronouns that would indicate the character's gender, which allows your audience to see themselves in the story. The way you see "I'm sorry" which is a phrase that no longer holds any weight or sincerity, is how I view the words, "Thank you." I grew up in an Asian household that forces one to exude politeness above all. Even if one doesn't like something, they are forced to feign joy. Now, when I genuinely feel thankful and appreciative, I never feel like "Thank you" is an appropriate response. I love the last paragraph where you ask the reader rhetorical questions. I am always pulled towards writings that provide food for thought. If this ever happened, my answer is that I would try my best to forgive her. Although it would be difficult, if not impossible for our relationship to return to its former peak. Thank you for writing Mai.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rushil MantriFebruary 7, 2024 at 12:50 PM

    Your blog has a very unorthodox style, but it's also very captivating and brilliant. From the start, I was enthralled by the story you presented. The narrative was completely different than the other blogs I have read. It was also shocking, as it randomly introduced 2 characters, and then a gory element was suddenly added. However, I liked how you connected the story to your overall point that the word 'sorry' doesn't carry any significance. My mother always taught me exactly what you said. As a kid, I constantly lied about the things I did, resulting in me being caught and giving superficial apologies. She told me that over time, people would stop trusting me as apologizing doesn't mean anything without action. I also agree that the notion of "Forgive and Forget" is unreasonable, as again, sorry doesn't mean anything without a behavior change. With this in mind, I resonate with your blog and appreciate its deeper meaning.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Phyo KyawFebruary 7, 2024 at 8:23 PM

    Mai, your blog was written in quite a unique way and captivated my attention. The plot twists and just the straightforward matter of your blog had me at the edge of my seat. I really like the topic you talk about and how a simple "I'm sorry" can't fix everything. It should be accepted generally to not forgive somebody. Even if they mean the apology, you should not be pressured into forgiving them. Like you said, holding grudges is okay and it should not be looked down upon. It isn't petty, rather taking time to assess our own feelings and manage our thoughts. Forgive and forget is an overrated concept. Overall, I really enjoyed reading your blog.

    ReplyDelete

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