comparative essay between two characters in two story

Reem Alsamiri

ENG 125

Prof. Cros.

Selfishness

Sydney leaned back helplessly against the only tree that was standing on the vast land stretching behind the library. She stood on trembling knees processing what just happened. Her eyes were so full of tears that she could not even see Thompson who was walking from her. Her vocal chords were paralyzed, and no word could come out of her mouth. She could not believe what she had just heard from her boyfriend.

The relationship between Thompson and Sydney had lasted more than three years, and never had she ever felt so much hatred towards the man she had spent all her best memories with on campus.

Sydney met Thompson for the first time when they started their first year of college. They began at the same time and although they never knew each other before, that did not stop them from becoming great friends. Since they were pursuing the same major, they did everything together, like going to class, studying in the library, field, nature walks, and field trips. No one even could mess with these partners.

It started as the perfect friendship. Many fellow students tried emulating them, but no one could match the chemistry they had in public. In no time, their friendship had developed rapidly and turned into something else, something unbreakable, and there they were always the two inseparable lovebirds.

The two had become the topic of discussion throughout campus just a few months after their admission. The rumors amongst the other students could not distract them even a bit. However, they were concentrating on their relationship without regard to any outside opinions. The fact that they had the same major made it possible for them to be always together in class. This made things even better for them as they would spend much of the time together. Although they were always thought to be perfect, their relationship was not always like that smooth; they had their ups and downs. Nevertheless, they would always work their differences and their relationship continued to get strong. No one among their friends could ever imagine that one day there would be a possibility of them parting ways.

Now Sydney has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and it is barely a week since she broke the news to her lover. Back to where she was standing, and all she could hear is the ringing words of her lover’s thick voice, telling her that it was over between them. Memories that they had spent together kept on popping up in her mind.

Sydney used to help her boyfriend, now her ex-boyfriend, on many occasions. He was struggling a lot with classes during their first year and she would take his problems into her own hands and guide him through the troubling subjects. Then came an accident which left Thompson broken and hospitalized for several weeks. She would spend much of the time away from campus to spend time beside her partner at his hospital bed.

She noticed something was wrong with him since she broke the news of her condition; he had changed tremendously and started to act distant. Now he has ended their relationship with her in the most heart-breaking way.

“Thompson of all people, how cruel has he become? After all the memories we have shared!” She could not believe it and the thoughts could not go away. She was unable to gather the strength to walk.

Depression, sickness, and betrayal all worked against Sydney’s health. Even though it was her last year, she was forced to withdraw from college because of her deteriorating condition a few weeks later since she knew. She was then admitted to the hospital.

All this time and Thompson never even bothered to see her in the hospital. He could only hear rumors of her condition from his classmates who used to check on her. He had as well got another girlfriend, a college model.

Few months later, Sydney passed away after a brave battle with cancer. Her death shocked Thompson and made him come back to his senses. He realized how remorseless he had been and started crying uncontrollably, but it was too late; he could not do anything about it. He wished that he could bring her back. The thought of his ill treatment towards his longtime partner could not go away. He felt selfish for leaving her in the only time she needed him the most.

The shame that covered his face could not allow him to attend Sydney’s burial ceremony. The incident made him so sad that he even contemplated committing suicide. But this would not have enabled him to see Sydney again. “I will never forgive myself for what I have done!” He murmured as he sat on the bed in his room aimlessly.