Things Are Not Always What They Seem!

Layla & Mitch are childhood friends! They go almost everywhere together, shopping, church, the movies. The two communicate all the time about everything, in addition to being in each other's face all the time, they are texting & talking on the phone & messaging on Facebook & email as if it were going out of style soon. They are quite comfortable with each other, it's almost as if their friendship is too good to be true!
On their way back from a nice long drive, lights flashed behind them. Mitch pulled over & the flashing lights zoomed pass. "Whew! What a relief, I thought they were after us", Layla said with a sigh of relief. "Why would they be after us, princess? We haven't done anything wrong! I just got the car out of the shop & I made sure the busted tail light was repaired before we hit the road. I'll never put you in harms way sweetie", Mitch explained. Layla smiled, reclined in her seat & they went back to singing.
Layla clapping her hands said, "Ooooh, that's my song! Mitch, can you turn it up a little please? Give Him your all, He want's it all." Mitch pressed the down button on the steering wheel & began to serenade Layla. "I want it all, give ME your all, because there's somethin' 'bout your love, that makes me weak & knocks me off my feet...I don't wanna bore you with it, oh but I love you, I love you, I love you!" Layla laughed, sat up in her seat & hit Mitch on the arm. "You play too much Mitch, why you turn my song off? Where are we now? I have to be back tomorrow morning so I can get ready for my lunch date! You remember that guy I told you about who asked me out don't you?" Mitch mumbled under his breath, "What if I weren't playing? Um, I mean, we're half way there, maybe another 3 hours & how could I ever forget? Where ya going for lunch, have you decided?" Layla rumbling through her bag for snacks said, "What you over there mumbling about Mitchy? I'm hungry, what shall we eat? I think I have two breakfast bars left in my bag...somewhere, down in here! Um, I told him to surprise me for lunch. HERE THEY ARE! YUMMM! Which flavor do you want, banana nut or oatmeal raisin?" Mitch wonders if he should try to tell Layla how he truly feels about her while they still have a few hours left alone. "I'll take whichever one you don't want, thanks. Listen, Layla, I've been thinking" Layla gasps for air & clutches her chest, "UH OH, you'd better pull over & let me drive! Thinking & driving on an empty stomach is a dangerous combo for you! hahahaha" Layla jokes with Mitch all the time. But, this was NOT a joking matter for him. "Layla, I'm serious, I need to tell you something so please just listen. We've been knowing each other since we were little, a lot has happened in our lives & we have been through a lot individually as well as together. I like having you around. You're cool peeps, you're my best friend!" Layla touched his hand & thanked him for the kind words. "Mitch, that's really sweet, but we're so much more than friends...we're family!" Mitch's heart sank to the floor of the car! He pulls over & get's out of the car & paces back & forth holding his head, mumbling to himself! Layla's not sure what the heck is going on so she stays in the car shouting out of the window asking him what is wrong. "FAMILY LAYLA? Is that how you see us, like...brother & sister family? Because, I see us as husband & wife family Layla! I have loved you since we were kids! I take you every where you need to go, I move your heavy furniture, I massage your feet after you've worked hard, I even try to cheer you up when some goofy disappoints you after only a couple of dates! I've seen you at your worse Layla & I love you any way! You make me better & I wanna do the same for you. Are you going to tell me you don't know that I have been in love with you all this time?" Layla stares at the floor of the car, confused. "When..how? In love with me? I don't even know what to say Mitch!" "Say that you love me too!"As he jumps in to answer her, she snaps! "How dare you back me into a corner like this? You are so selfish Mitch! I can not believe you! What do you expect me to do now? You're just wrong to bring up all the stuff you've done for me, I know what you've done! Nobody asked you to do all that stuff for me, if you had ulterior motives for doing it then that's on you! I've been there for you too Mitch! I see now, no wonder you're always there no matter what, you've been straight blocking! Ugh! Just get me home please, I've got a date to prepare for! My Mr. Right is out there some where & all this time, you've been here in my life keeping him from finding me! I can't keep letting you you do this to me!" Hurt & shocked at her response, Mitch drives as fast as he can! Layla is still talking, but Mitch can no longer hear her. He cranks up the music & runs a few red lights. He even played chicken with a truck! Speeding out of control, Mitch attempts to beat the freight train ahead! Layla begins to pray, because she is afraid that they won't clear it in enough time! She turns the music off & begs Mitch to stop so that they can talk. Mitch's jaw is clenched & his eyes are watery as he responds, "Talk about what Layla? There is nothing left to talk about! I'm just trying to get you home in time for your date. But, I can tell you how your date will turn out. It'll be a disaster like all the others! He'll say what you want to hear, treat you how you want to be treated & then try to sleep with you! Then you'll come crying to me, expecting me to make it mo' betta by completing the job you wouldn't let him finish. That's how it always ends!" Tears streaming down Layla's face, she turns to Mitch & asks "is that how you see it? You think I wanted you to finish the job? NO! You took it upon yourself to do that even when I said no! You'd stroke my hair, kiss my forehead & hold me. Then you did what every other man has done, you took advantage of the situation & you took advantage of me! You know how I feel about that, but selfish is all you know how to be! Then you tried to manipulate my mind trying to get me to believe that you would never hurt me. You'd whisper apology after apology, tell me you love me, take me on a trip or buy me something nice, then do the same thing again. It was what I knew! It was wrong, but I let it become my comfort zone! A familiar spirit! Sad part about it is, I let you! Well, NO MORE! I won't ever let you do that to me again! You're not my friend! You were only out to satisfy your own lustful desires!" Mitch puts the car in park, gets out & yells, "ARE YOU SERIOUS LAYLA? HOW COULD YOU ACCUSE ME OF BEING SELFISH? EVERYTHING I'VE DONE, I DID TO MAKE YOU HAPPY!" Pacing, Mitch is upset & beside himself, Layla's head is hurting & she feels sick to her stomach so she gets out of the car & begins to walk. "YOU CAN'T MAKE ANYONE HAPPY! YOU CAN ONLY ADD TO THEIR HAPPINESS! YOU HAVE TRIED TO CONTROL ME, THINKING THAT ALL THE STUFF YOU DID WAS GOING TO MAKE ME WANT TO BE WITH YOU! THAT'S WRONG & THOSE DAYS ARE OVER! MY LOVE IS NOT FOR SALE! WHEN WE GET BACK HOME, THAT'S IT, I CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE! I'M GIVING YOU ALL OF YOUR STUFF BACK! I DON'T WANT TO OWE YOU ANYTHING!" Mitch becomes enraged, "WHAT ABOUT MY TIME, LAYLA, CAN YOU GIVE ME BACK MY TIME? YOU ARE SO UNGRATEFUL! DO YOU THINK I'M GOING TO JUST LET YOU BREAK UP WITH ME AFTER ALL OF THIS TIME? WE ARE MEANT TO BE TOGETHER!" With a look of surprise on Layla's face, she interrupts, "let me break up with you? Meant to be together? Okay, it's official, you're crazy! Let's just calm down! I'm going to drive the rest of the way!" Mitch takes the keys out of the ignition. Layla stands there looking at him. "What are you, twelve? Give me the keys so we can go!" Mitch gets in driver's seat, starts up the car & pulls off a little bit. He keeps doing it as Layla runs trying to get in. She finally gets in, "it's something wrong with you for real! The train is almost finished. I can be home in about an hour or so. Right?" Mitch can't believe his ears. "Are you still gonna try to meet up with dude? Is that why you're in such a hurry Layla?" At this point, Layla just wants to make sure she gets home safe & in one piece. "Mitch, I'm just drained & ready to lay in my bed that's all. It doesn't matter if I am going or not, I'm a single woman. You are a single man & free to see whomever you like. Our friendship was all a lie! Now that I see the truth, I'm not putting myself in this position anymore. When we get home, you're going your way & I'm going mine. You can't force me to be in your life." Mitch does not like what he is hearing, he believes that he is supposed to spend the rest of his life with Layla. "I'm not going anywhere, neither are you! We'll be together forever!" Layla looks at Mitch & sees a look she's never seen before. Mitch speeds up & angrily tells Layla, "SAY YOU LOVE ME! TELL ME YOU LOVE ME & ONLY ME! YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BE WITH THOSE OTHER GUYS AGAIN! WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE REST OF OUR LIVES TOGETHER LAYLA!" She screams, "I can't tell you this, because I don't feel the same way you do! Stop yelling at me! We can talk this out, just calm down. Mitch, SLOW DOWN!" Mitch grabs her arm & looks at her with tears streaming down his face. "Let go of my arm Mitch! YOU'RE HURTING ME! MITCH, STOP IT! OH MY GOD, LOOK OUT!!!" Driven by lust, jealousy & anger, Mitch crashed! Although it appeared to be the perfect friendship, it was not! Somethings are not what they seem! This is an example of an unhealthy relationship. 
This story is fiction, but this sort of thing does exist & it's sad, because you can't make someone love you! Communication is key! Tell people how you truly feel & if the feelings aren't mutual then just move on! Some people need to seek professional help & don't know it, or maybe they do know it & just choose to ignore that fact! Some people give too much of themselves to a person & that could be confusing or misleading.
BE CAREFUL! COMMUNICATE PROPERLY! GUARD YOUR MIND! 
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Proverbs 4:23-24.
         


Have you told someone that you love & appreciate them? Always remember that THANK YOU makes room for more!