Tham Khảo*

He didn't think that Lan was such a stupid friend. He had always admired her intelligence, her wit, her courage. They had been friends since childhood, and he trusted her with his life. But now, he felt betrayed, angry, and hurt. How could she do this to him? How could she join the rebels, the enemies of the empire, the traitors to the crown? How could she turn against him, her loyal friend, her faithful companion, her sworn protector? He remembered the day when they first met, when they were both six years old. He was the son of a nobleman, she was the daughter of a servant. They played together in the gardens, oblivious to the differences in their status. They shared their dreams, their fears, their secrets. They promised to be friends forever, no matter what. He gave her a necklace with a silver pendant, a symbol of their bond. She gave him a bracelet with a leather band, a token of her gratitude. They grew up together, learning, laughing, living. He taught her how to read and write, she taught him how to climb and swim. He showed her the wonders of the palace, she showed him the beauty of the forest. He introduced her to the nobility, she introduced him to the commoners. He protected her from the bullies, she defended him from the critics. He supported her ambitions, she encouraged his passions. They were inseparable, until the day everything changed. The day the rebels attacked the palace, the day the emperor was killed, the day the war began. He was loyal to the empire, she was sympathetic to the rebels. He wanted to restore order, she wanted to bring change. He followed his duty, she followed her heart. He stayed in the palace, she left with the rebels. He tried to stop her, to reason with her, to persuade her. He told her that the rebels were wrong, that they were violent, that they were dangerous. He told her that the empire was right, that it was stable, that it was safe. He told her that he loved her, that he needed her, that he wanted her. He begged her to stay, to listen, to understand. But she didn't. She said that the rebels were right, that they were peaceful, that they were brave. She said that the empire was wrong, that it was oppressive, that it was corrupt. She said that she loved him, that she was sorry, that she had to go. She gave him back his necklace, she took off her bracelet. She kissed him goodbye, she turned away, she walked out. He didn't think that Lan was such a stupid friend. But maybe he was the stupid one, for letting her go.

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