UNIFIED DIFFERENCES
I've always believed in compatibility. I've always had this belief that for two people to be able to be together, they must have many things in common.
Just like the popular adage which says that, “two cannot work together except they agree”.
AND
“Birds of a feather flock together”
I've always held onto that, I let it become a major part of me, as it determined my friendship with a lot of people. But as I grew older, I began to see things in different perspectives.
So here's the story:
Carmen lived in my neighborhood, a beautiful, smart and intelligent young girl, probably of my age too. I admired her from a distance, and I really wanted to be her friend. But then, I asked myself, what if she doesn't like what I like? Then automatically we can't be friends!
This particular question lingered in my mind for a long time, maybe waiting for the right time I guess.
One sunny afternoon, as I strolled through the neighborhood garden, admiring the vibrant blooms, I noticed Carmen sitting on a bench, sketching the scenery. So, feeling hesitant but intrigued, I decided to take a chance and approach Carmen.
Approaching her nervously, I greeted her,
"Hey, Carmen! Enjoying the garden?"
She looked up, a smile gracing her face. "Oh, hi! Yeah, it's so peaceful here. I love sketching the flowers; it's my little escape."
"That's cool! I really do love gardening. There's something therapeutic about it, you know?"
Carmen nodded, "Totally get that. "What prompted your venture into gardening?”
"I started as a kid with my grandma. It's just stuck with me. What about sketching? "How did that become your forte?” I asked curiously.
She chuckled, "Well, my mom's an artist, so I guess it runs in the family. Nature has always inspired me, and drawing what I see helps me capture its beauty.”
At this point, I felt something different. To my surprise, I found that despite having distinct interests, both of us shared a mutual passion for helping others. I discovered that while our hobbies varied, our values aligned seamlessly. Guess what? We became friends!
As our friendship grew, I realized that despite having separate interests, these differences made our bond stronger. Carmen introduced me to classical music, and I introduced her to hiking.
Together, we explored various activities, embracing the beauty of our diverse tastes. My initial belief in strict compatibility softened, and I learned that friendship isn't solely built on identical preferences but on respect, understanding, and the joy of discovering new things together. Carmen became not just a friend but a valued companion who broadened my horizons and enriched my life in unexpected ways.
hello @virabee, this feels more like a creative non-fiction than a fiction story. There is nothing wrong with that but we ask because it affects how a curator reads your story. Is this piece based on a true story or is it fiction as tagged?
Some synchronicity blended with difference is good for relationships. It makes them interesting. Your piece doesn't really introduce any conflict, aside from your MC's concerns as to whether she and Carmen will have anything in common. You may wish to read the following resource in The Ink Well which provides some guidance on handling conflict in stories and therefore creating a stronger arc.
Adding conflict
There is a host of resources available which can hep you to grow as a writer in The Ink Well.
Catalogue of fiction writing tips
There was also a leap from the two girls talking about their interest in flowers from different perspectives, to this: "To my surprise, I found that despite having distinct interests, both of us shared a mutual passion for helping others." - there was nothing shared in the story to this point that suggested that either shared a passion for helping others, and nothing added after this to support the statement. It felt a little oddly placed as a result. Your story needs a little more development so that we have a greater understanding of the characters - we want to see them and feel their emotions, and not only be told about them. A slightly longer piece would have allowed you to flesh some of these things out.
Please do remember to support at least two other stories in The Ink Well for each one that you submit and ensure that you drop a link to your post on the relevant weekly prompt post.
Thank you for writing in The Ink Well.
Thanks so much for the corrections! I'm willing to learn more. I've taken note of them, and I promise to do better next time.
Great piece. Draws ones attention to somethings we really need to take note of.♥️💯