The hardest-learned lesson: that people have only their kind of love to give, not our kind.
- Mignon McLaughlin
I just keep going over this in my head. You’d think I would work it out here, but i just needed to wrap my head around it. It’s the story of a boy and a girl who just couldn’t make it work.
When he moved to California last July it was a jolt to my system. I cut myself off. Cloistered myself in my apartment licking my wounds. After a months time I reached out to him still in need of his company, even if it was 3,000 miles away. Every night I’d fall asleep talking to him, content with my lot. My bed grew very cold, very quickly. Soon I wanted a playmate and companion. Conversation across the continent just wasn’t enough, mostly because that is all it was. He made it very clear there was no future.
So when I started looking for a partner I did not feel guilty or ashamed. i met someone I wanted to have in my life, in whatever respect that would be and I was enjoying having dinner once a week with someone. Talking, watching movies – having company of the opposite gender where it wasn’t girl talk, it wasn’t talking about work, it was just talking about whatever. We were friends and then one night we had sex – and we’re still just friends. Still just watching movies and having dinner. Still talking about the world with our legs resting on one another for no other reason but comfort.
And my nights were still spent being lulled to sleep by that southern drawl; that cool sophistication of a Louisville accent. Because he had my heart. And while I didn’t think I had his, that I was just familiar conversation, I hear that I am. And when I didn’t think it mattered who I slept with or who I was attracted to it turns out it mattered very much – not because I slept with someone else, but because I never told him I wanted him.
And so the ultimatum; do not call, do not text unless it is to say that I want him and only him. I don’t think I can do that. Not now. Not because I don’t want him. Not because I don’t love him. Not because some part of me feels like I belong with him.
Because there is some other part of me that needs to be dominated. Some other part of me that needs to submit – and I cannot submit to him because he would give me the world to see me smile without a moments hesitation. He would do whatever I asked of him and it is not that I want a man who wont – I just want a man who gives me the world because he wants to give me the world, not because I want the world and will be able to say no to me.
I miss him. I miss the way he looks at life, the way he loves his kids. I miss the free spirit he lets out on weekends when he is riding his bike or he is looking out over the mountains and taking it all in. I could live my life with him and be very happy, but I am haunted with the fear that part of me would die for not living my life as who I am.
So what do I do? Do I call him up and tell him I’m ready to commit to him because honestly, he really does make me very happy and I do love him. Or do I give up on him because waiting for something that may not come and being true to yourself (even though it, too, is just a small part of you) is worth being alone forever?


The Scoot (Mar 09, 2010)
Hmmm. If you were to uproot yourself from your current home travel across a continent, find some way of supporting yourself in the midst of a slow-moving economic meltdown, and then, find out that the idea was better than the reality, would you merely be disappointed but happy that you took a chance, or sad beyond words that you have lost a pleasant idea?
Fea (Mar 09, 2010)
Well, here is the thing…
He wants me to wait for a year and a half for him to move back, so I wouldn’t have to move anywhere. Just wait and then be his reason for moving back… That’s a lot of pressure…
P.S. SCOOT!!!!!!!
The Scoot (Mar 09, 2010)
Huh. Just live your life. This guy that you have in front of you, he might not be your dream, but he’s there, and he isn’t pressuring you to wait 548 days before you can start to live.
If nothing has developed in 530 days, well, then maybe you should see about your guy who emigrated to California.
“You can only seize what you can see”.
Fea (Mar 09, 2010)
There is no guy here though. The guy from a few days ago? He’s a friend. Not interested in more.
I agree with you about waiting 530 days until I can get a more realistic idea… but the thought of being this guys motivation to move back here scares the crap out of me, so while I want to see where it goes with him when he moves back I don’t want to be his reason…
Ugh! Drama!