Troubles

"Well, I really do hate you," I said sternly.

Monica stared at me, not sure of what to say.  Call me blunt, but I just did not give a damn anymore!

"What you did was inexcusable," I continued to say.  "I can't even look at you."  I turned my back towards her and shuffled papers that were on the entry table in the small hallway.

I could rip her to pieces right now, I thought.  My blood was boiling, my cheeks were getting flushed.  "I never thought in a million years that you would do that to me."  I turned around quickly to face Monica again.

Monica decided to sit in the love seat.  "I don't want this to jeopardize our friendship. I'm sorry."

"Maybe you should have thought about that before you did it.  As far as I know, this friendship is through.  Ten years down the drain because of you."

I watched closely to see if I would get any kind of emotion from her - but there wasn't any.  She wasn't sorry.  They never are, I thought.

"I will make it up to you, Sarah.  I promise."  She couldn't even look me in the eye.

"I won't hold my breath on that one.  Don't make promises you can't keep.  You need to get help."

Monica stood silent.

"I can't trust you anymore.  This problem is getting out of control.  I have a bank account statement to prove it."

And then, from the corner of her eye, a tear fell down her cheek.  "I don't know how the gambling got out of hand,” she admitted quietly.  “I thought it was under control.  I never meant to steal $5,000 from you."  She made eye contact with me.  "You're the only one who has ever been there for me.  I need you.  I can't do this alone."

She looked at me for a response.  But I didn’t give her one.

Monica waited.  I honestly did not know what to say or do. 

I felt horrible.

*Writing Prompt: In under 500 words, start your story with “Well, I really do hate you”.