I don’t blame her, because she’s just fifteen or so. And I know I myself have behaved worse with Jerry. At least until I successfully correct myself first, I cannot point fingers at anyone else.

I actually listen to orchestral music only. I’m having to avoid all the emotional pieces because they remind me of her and make me cry. I feel this gaping void inside me that has sapped out all happiness. I just am keeping up the positive faith and working first on what I’m facing in the immediate future… the exam.

Thanks Anita. I know that but her sister’s words really hurt me a lot. “Yes, you did really bad, you called her your sister and then tried to selfishly change relations… not expected from you… you stabbed her in the back”. I’m feeling like some molester or rapist. Combined with my previous misbehavior with Jerry which is inexcusable anyway, I’ve lost most of my self respect. If I had not treated her so badly, I do feel she probably may not have been so harsh on me now. Probably would at least have tried to understand my situation instead of breaking our bond without hesitation.

I can only pray that she remembers the beauty of our bond and realizes that I really do love, care for and respect her, and will always do so. If our bond was true, which I believe it was, then I hope it eventually helps her put aside her beliefs and re-establish our relation. I’m studying until my exam… that’s all in my power presently. Thanks and you too take care. Will try to post sometimes.

Hi Anita. A week ago, I talked to Jerry’s sister with whom I normally was on very good terms with. I did it despite you and my friends advising not to do anything… once again I let my feelings overrule my judgement. Here’s some highlights of what she had to say –

“Jerry and I did not expect this from you, did not expect you to transform from a humble and caring brother to this. In fact she felt you truly cared for as your sister.”
“Yes, you did bad. It’s a horrible thing to call someone your sister and then trying to change relations. No good person would ever dream of doing this. It’s wrong, unethical and you stabbed her in the back. You betrayed her trust.”
“I think all the girls who call you their brother need to be wary, because anytime you can change your feelings and start lusting after them. Our favourite actress whom you now call your elder sister, we noticed your comments about her in the early days and feel you don’t love her but just have these lustful feelings and then tried to change relations and call her a sister, and now you’re lusting after Jerry in the same way.”
“To love someone, you need to know them very well. Jerry never told you anything personal that can justify you saying that you love her. She always told you very limited things and we made it clear that we can only be your Internet friends, no more. We were wrong to think relations can be made online; I now know the Internet is a dangerous place due to people like you who wear masks, trick innocent people and then stab them in the back. Our own brother is the best; he’ll never lust after her unlike you.”
“We’re not angry at you. We don’t hate you. Hating is different from just not wanting to have anything to do with you anymore. We’re doing what we feel is right. You have many girls who love you as their brother; hope you have a great life with them and please don’t stab them in the back the way you betrayed Jerry.”

Needless to say, her words pierced me badly and I’m unable to get them out of my head. Though I managed to do my third exam fairly well yesterday, but these words are on a loop in my head day and night. I did not respond angrily to her, I did my best to keep quiet and wish her well only. I don’t mind it because I feel I deserve this pain for misbehaving with my Jerry and taking her for granted. But still, after three years of a loving bond I cannot believe they are calling me a traitor and pervert now (she did not actually use the word lust, but it was easy enough to make out what she was hinting at). The comments about our favourite actress she’s referring to, so many people said something like that and they never minded me saying that before. Now suddenly, they’re looking at everything I ever did in this manner. Is even commenting about someone having a charming smile/eyes, a lustful thing??

She first says I cared for each other as brother and sister, and then says she never shared anything personal (an outright lie) which means we shared no bond at all… so why is it a sin if I loved her when apparently she only called me brother as a formality? Does loving her romantically mean I stopped caring for her, or lusted for her? It means I turned from a “humble and caring brother” into an evil internet monster who traps innocent girls online? All the girls I call my sisters… apparently I imagine them naked and fantasize about molesting them?? Nobody told them that a true bond can never be replaced by another? Everything I ever did to make her see that she’s special for me, means nothing and I just am a pervert who’s been after her?

I’m also delighted to see that not one person who’s claimed to care for me has come forward to help me in my time of need. A few people asked, felt bad hearing about my condition, uttered a sweet “hope all gets well” and went back to their usual delightful lives. Only 2-3 people are kind enough to let me vent out my pain and sorrow to them, and they too either send smileys or a “Hmmm” in reply and then forget about it. Only one person tried to ask her not to break relations with me. I’ve seen her going around posting online and about our show/actress without any regrets, everything normal… I guess soon she’ll forget there’s someone who truly does care for her, or will remember me only as a traitor and pervert. Enjoying life with her dear “own” brother, not caring that someone’s been crying locked up alone in a dark room from nearly 2 months thinking of her, feeling the vacuum her absence has left crushing his heart and soul, wishing for nothing but to breathe his last as soon as possible, letting her be in his last thoughts.

I’m sorry for this getting so long and depressing, but I have nowhere else to say anything. I’m in fact grateful for my exams now, because at least they give me something to do and distract myself. I dread the day my exams end and I’ll be jobless… this depression will surely consume me and wreck me. Its my birthday in two weeks and I know I’ll sit like a madman at 12:00 AM thinking she’ll send her sweet “it’s finally the day a very special person was born!” message as usual… and my phone will sit silent as a grave and some random relative will message me as a formality, or all those fair weather friends who suddenly will remember that I still exist (unfortunately). I’m thinking of cutting contact with everyone… after all, I’m an internet monster and a disease in the society.

Hi Anita. My first two exams this week went fairly well, the second one better than I expected. Though I still have a long way to go regarding my syllabus. Also, it’s confirmed that this year is my final chance to qualify the main exam on May 17, as they’re changing eligibility rules next year. It’s now or never. I’m doing my best to focus on preparing for it.

I had messaged Jerry regarding my efforts to change myself a couple of days back, and she sent me a message via her sister saying she doesn’t want to continue our bond anymore because it’s not brotherly now. The convo went something like this (she was only messaging via her sister telling me “she asked me to tell you that…)–

Me – If only a brotherly bond is acceptable to you, it’s totally fine by me. Please try to understand I never meant anything wrong. My feelings aren’t under my control after all. Love of any kind is love. I always respect and care for you.
She – It’s easier said than done. Those feelings can come back anytime. You cannot claim to truly love me because you know nothing about me other than whatever little I told you. Your love is nothing but infatuation just like you were smitten with our favourite actress in the early days. You may think it’s easy to keep changing relationships like this, but I don’t.
Me – I don’t feel any two people in the world know 100% about each other. I do know enough about you to be sure that my love is not a whim. But that’s not relevant. Please try to understand. Did you really not miss our sweet talks and old days this month we’ve not talked?
She – I don’t want to listen to all this all over again. I only wanted to convey the message that I don’t want to continue the bond. Stop this lecturing.
Me – I won’t lecture. But I’m only requesting you not to break this beautiful bond we’ve had for three years, just due to this. If you only can accept a bro-sis bond, I’m ready. Dealing with my feelings is my responsibility. We both know how precious our bond is for us. Please think over it.

After this, I have a feeling she herself chatted a little with me about my studies. I may be wrong, but the writing style seemed more like hers than her sister’s. I feel I tried my best to be gentle and kind, though I felt bad that my feelings are being considered like some horrible and inhuman sin and she’s acting as though we had nothing but very formal talks these three years. I know it’s just immaturity on her part and I’ve even given my assurance to somehow overcome my feelings and keep our bond the way she wants.

I guess the fight we had isn’t relevant anymore, so I’m putting it back though I’ll of course keep up my progress to change myself. But honestly, did I commit such a terrible sin by loving her? Something so bad to break our bond of three years in this manner? 🙁 I did my best to try to convince her not to do it. If there’s anything more I can do, I am willing to do that too. I don’t know what else I can do. I just pray she sees the truth and tries to understand my situation.

Yup I understood that. I didn’t mean I’ll send something as an anniversary or something, but it just feels bad thinking it’s been just a month when it feels like years ago. I’m not obsessing over it or exhausting myself emotionally, but naturally when it’s something so vital to my heart, I cannot just forget it. I do push it back when studying, and make sure that my studies are not affected. But after all, studies aren’t the beginning and end of life. I’m sure career, money and all will happen. But without her, without what my heart wishes, it’s merely superficial. I know I’m merely going in circles so will refrain from mentioning it.

I know Anita. At least I know that my efforts to change myself, make up for my behaviour and do what’s right now are sincere… and I can see some effects of that in my life at least. What’s not in my power to change, I can’t do anything but leave it up to karma. It doesn’t make the pain less intense. But I do know that every strong relation has to endure such tough phases and if our bond truly is genuine, and I truly do love her, then we cannot be separated permanently. At least I do feel it in my heart, delusion or not.

I hope so. And all credit to your selfless motivation and encouragement, and patiently understanding my situation. Can never be grateful enough. Feels good to see my parents happy with my efforts to co-operate with studies. I just hope I can push back the sadness and fear in my present conquest at least for the time being.

@humour – Thank you so much for your kind words. Means a lot to me. 🙂