Neil had been so excited, so excited to play Puck in the play of midsummer night’s dream. When he got the part, he even came running down the hall, knocking on the doors of all his friends, you included. Yelling how he got the part, he was so, so excited..

You didn’t want to crush his spirits, you really didn’t. Neil was your best friend, your dorm mate but one fateful afternoon, his father stopped by to say hello to him. Unfortunately, he saw the script on Neil’s desk. You tried to play it off as your own, protecting Neil, but he saw right through you. He told you to put an end to it or he would.

He gave you a deadline. Two weeks. You had two weeks to deter Neil from going ahead with the play and those two weeks were up. You knew you had to do something or something worse would happen.

So, when Neil came back from his rehearsal one night, you were up waiting. He began rambling about how exciting it all was, how he was so ready for opening night. God, that bitter feeling just wasn’t leaving the back of your throat the more you heard him speak. You waited till he was done before speaking,

“Look.. Neil..”

Your voice started off soft, sweet, kind, then you realised you seriously needed to just say it and harsh,

“You’ve got your passion, you’ve got your pride, but don’t you know that only fools are satisfied? Dream on, but don’t imagine they’ll all come true. When will you realise.. acting is a waste of time?”

Oh that hurt to say. What hurt more? The way Neil looked at you. Torn, distraught, before he finally choked out,

“You sound just like my dad..”