breakup, in one act

Characters: me & W, a boy that I've been dating since late October

Scene: my bedroom, the two characters in the bed, post-makeout, in various states of undress

W [initiating conversation]: I'm so confused about my life: jobs, relationships, everything. When I was home for Christmas, I saw a lot of my friends who are now getting married. They seem so happy. . . I like the idea of going through life with someone. . . It was good to see my ex-girlfriend when I was in San Francisco a few weeks back. . . I spent a lot of time with her & it was good. . . we've had a tortured relationship. . . we were best friends freshman year & then dated some & stopped talking to each other for months at a time. We tried to be friends and that didn't work. She's the only person I've ever been in love with.

Me: So, do you feel like when the stars all align correctly, you'll end up together?

W: Maybe. I mean, we have very different goals for our future. I want to have kids; she doesn't [insert more examples of impossible-to-reconcile goals here]. . .

Me: Are you still in love with her?

W: Yes. I think so. It's love and affection and nostalgia tied together. She's the only person I've ever been in love with. I'm not sure how it's supposed to feel. [long pause] Rachel, what are you thinking?

Me: I'm not sure yet. This changes things between us, but I'm not sure how yet. How did you expect me to react?

W: Hurt and angry, I guess. Anything you feel is justified and I probably deserve it.

[long pause]

Me: Thank you for telling me about this. . .I know we never made any promises to each other. . . . So, has this love for her been in the front of your mind since graduation or is it something that you hadn't thought of & were reminded of when you saw her?

W: I hadn't thought of her much at all. . . I thought that by doing other things & being with someone else I would be able to move on, forget.

Me: The next time you need to work on your issues, please do not involve others like this. It is unfair & unethical. . . So why did you make out with me tonight if you were planning to tell me all of this afterwards?

W: I wasn't planning to tell you. . . [long pause.] I know we didn't make promises to each other, but I am sorry. I want you to know that I respect you and am attracted to you and enjoy your company. And I hope that we can be friends.

[W kisses me on the arm & gets up to leave.]

Me: Wait for me to call you, okay?

W: Sure. Goodnight.

Me: Goodnight.

End Scene

W leaves. I talk with E about it all. Plans are made for a public shunning & possibly a directory of boys not worth kissing. I call F,R, & M, as I eat Andes mints. They are all suitably outraged by the actions of this cad.