The two best friends stood side by side, leaning their forearms atop the brick wall. They didn't do anything else.
"We can't both be in love with her," Peterson said.
"Yet, we are," Dupont said.
"How do we decide?" Peterson said.
"Maybe we don't," Dupont said.
Neither teen paid mind to anything before them. This conversation would decide the rest of their lives.
"Neither of us will step aside," Dupont said.
"And she's told us already that she won't choose between us," Peterson said.
"We might both lose her," Dupont said. "Or we could both keep her."
"Two men can't share one woman," Peterson said.
Dupont leaned harder upon the wall. "Are you sure?"
"What are you suggesting?" Peterson said.
"That we place jealousy and ownership aside," Dupont said.
"It wouldn't be fair to either of us," Peterson said. "We both deserve a love of our own to share our lives."
"Except that she is that love for both of us."
Peterson grew quiet. Dupont did, too.
"It's taking friendship a bit too far," Peterson said.
Both friends nodded. Both made their plans.
"What would she say?" Peterson said.
"We could ask," Dupont said.
"She's made me happy," Peterson said, "ever since we met."
"Me, too," Dupont said. "She's very special."
"And I think," Peterson said, "that she does love us equally."
"It's impossible," Dupont said. "We both want her too much."
Peterson shut his eyes. "If a safe were falling this instant upon my head, would you save me, my friend?"
"Sure," Dupont said.
"And I'd save you," Peterson said.
"That's good to know."
"Maybe we each love different aspects of her," Peterson said. "Which parts do you love?"
"All of her," Dupont said.
"Me, too," Peterson said.
The afternoon went on.
"If this were a science fiction story," Dupont said, "we could combine ourselves into one person."
Peterson nodded. "Or split her in two."
"We're stuck with reality," Dupont said.
"It would seem so," Peterson said.
"We may both live to be a hundred," Dupont said.
"Only if she does, too," Peterson said.
They both nodded.
"We'll never make the three of us work," Peterson said.
"No matter how hard we try," Dupont said, "it's bound to be unequal."
"Like a parent with a favorite child," Peterson said. "They just can't help it."
Both friends stood up away from the wall.
"We'll have to be enemies, then," Peterson said.
"And lose everything between us," Dupont said.
"And fight to the death, emotionally at least, for our love," Peterson said.
"There's no other way," Dupont said.
The two teens shook hands for the last time. Each held back a tear.
"Love shouldn't be compromised, ever."
"I agree," Peterson said.
As they turned to part, they saw her walking by, arm in arm with another man. They both went back and stood, side by side, leaning their forearms atop the brick wall.
"Friendship is the most important thing in life," they each said at the same time.
"We can't both be in love with her," Peterson said.
"Yet, we are," Dupont said.
"How do we decide?" Peterson said.
"Maybe we don't," Dupont said.
Neither teen paid mind to anything before them. This conversation would decide the rest of their lives.
"Neither of us will step aside," Dupont said.
"And she's told us already that she won't choose between us," Peterson said.
"We might both lose her," Dupont said. "Or we could both keep her."
"Two men can't share one woman," Peterson said.
Dupont leaned harder upon the wall. "Are you sure?"
"What are you suggesting?" Peterson said.
"That we place jealousy and ownership aside," Dupont said.
"It wouldn't be fair to either of us," Peterson said. "We both deserve a love of our own to share our lives."
"Except that she is that love for both of us."
Peterson grew quiet. Dupont did, too.
"It's taking friendship a bit too far," Peterson said.
Both friends nodded. Both made their plans.
"What would she say?" Peterson said.
"We could ask," Dupont said.
"She's made me happy," Peterson said, "ever since we met."
"Me, too," Dupont said. "She's very special."
"And I think," Peterson said, "that she does love us equally."
"It's impossible," Dupont said. "We both want her too much."
Peterson shut his eyes. "If a safe were falling this instant upon my head, would you save me, my friend?"
"Sure," Dupont said.
"And I'd save you," Peterson said.
"That's good to know."
"Maybe we each love different aspects of her," Peterson said. "Which parts do you love?"
"All of her," Dupont said.
"Me, too," Peterson said.
The afternoon went on.
"If this were a science fiction story," Dupont said, "we could combine ourselves into one person."
Peterson nodded. "Or split her in two."
"We're stuck with reality," Dupont said.
"It would seem so," Peterson said.
"We may both live to be a hundred," Dupont said.
"Only if she does, too," Peterson said.
They both nodded.
"We'll never make the three of us work," Peterson said.
"No matter how hard we try," Dupont said, "it's bound to be unequal."
"Like a parent with a favorite child," Peterson said. "They just can't help it."
Both friends stood up away from the wall.
"We'll have to be enemies, then," Peterson said.
"And lose everything between us," Dupont said.
"And fight to the death, emotionally at least, for our love," Peterson said.
"There's no other way," Dupont said.
The two teens shook hands for the last time. Each held back a tear.
"Love shouldn't be compromised, ever."
"I agree," Peterson said.
As they turned to part, they saw her walking by, arm in arm with another man. They both went back and stood, side by side, leaning their forearms atop the brick wall.
"Friendship is the most important thing in life," they each said at the same time.
