97. Why Neriah?

At some point in his life, he had realized it… That she had feelings for him. Feelings that were more than friendship and it had hurt him for he knew he was hurting her because as much as he loved her—and by the gods he did love her dearly—he just could not love her in that light. 

He also did not know why. He truly wished he could. In fact at some point he had tried to, but his heart just did not race that way. He did not find himself staring at her the way his father stared at his mother. There was something missing and he knew it.

A good friend would set her free from his side, but Barak could not bring himself to break away from his childhood friend. Even though he was hurting her by his side, he wanted to remain friends with her. For a very long time. 

He was selfish, he knew but that was just how he was.