The crying man

Chapter 2

We ended up going out for three years, but it was never a solid relationship. I never felt comfortable openly hugging her or flirting. And it wasn't just me being awkward or anything. Any time I hugged her or went to kiss her, she always flinched. The only time she didn't was when he had sex, which she wanted a lot of, not that I minded at first.

Being with her felt almost like a business relationship or maybe a friends with benefits sort of situation. Most of the time we were together it was me fixing stuff at her house, or paying for whatever she wanted to do/needed. But I did enjoy being friends with her. Being able to talk about my day and things that bothered me. Plus she had a bright little girl that had so much energy for life. I loved spending time with both of them, especially helping her daughter with her homework.

One day out of the blue she stopped texting me. I would text her and if she replied it would be a single word response like "OK," letting me know something was wrong. When I probed, she sent a single, very long text stating that she didn't connect to me and we are breaking up, but that she still wanted to be friends.

That was the last time I heard from her. I sent her a reply, saying that if I was being honest I agreed we didn't really connect to each other, but if she wanted to work on it, maybe go to therapy, I would be open. I told her I would like to stay friends as I value her a great deal. But she didn't respond. Never responded. Three years and that was the ending I got.

I know I deserved better than that, just like I know I deserve better than her. With the power of hindsight I see she is very selfish and only wanted to discuss things that were about her. Can't even say how many times I complained about something, where she would cut in with, "You don't know what problems are, you know what I had to do at work?" Thus making whatever issue I was having seem trivial because someone at her work said something that could be taken as a possible insult.

Granted, I know the broken relationship was partly my fault. I'm not Mister Perfect or anything, but I do try. I always listened, as well as helped her whenever I could, fixing her house, paying bills, etc. Not to mention giving her gifts to let her know she was cared for.

"She's coming here and will see I didn't get her anything. That I didn't do anything," the crying man tells his friend. If I could read the name on his shirt I would call him his name, so in my mind he's going to be "the crying man," even if he is no longer crying.

I figure the guy must have forgot it was Valentine's today, and his wife isn't going to be happy about it. I say his "wife" because of the ring he wears. Then again, if he is talking about a girlfriend, then I think the wife has a right to be upset since he's married.

"Dude, just go out and get her something?" His friend suggests, saying the exact thing I was thinking. It's not really that late and there's tons of stores. Hell a lot of people have set up their trucks on the side of the road with teddy bears, chocolates and whatever.

"Because she would just get even more upset if I got her some cheap, token Valentine's gift," the crying man retorts, sounding a bit upset that his friend isn't understanding.

"She told me at Christmas that she would like something thoughtful and heartfelt as her next gift. She was hurt because of what I got her for Christmas," the crying man explains.

"What you get her for Christmas?" The man's friend asks and I almost salute my beer to him as I wanted to ask the same question.

"A six pack of PBR and a Rhea Ripley T-shirt," the crying man reveals, a bit too proudly.

His friend and I have the same reaction, which is to cringe a little. I have no idea who his wife is or what she may like, but unless she is the definition of white trash, I doubt that would go over as a good Christmas gift.

"She drinks that beer, so I thought she would like it. And when we watch wrestling, she makes sure to always watch Rhea," the crying man says passionately, defending his choice of gifts.

"It's not like I make a lot of money. And I really thought she would like it," the crying man says right after, taking a good, long sip of his beer to settle him.

"I meant to get her something for Valentine's, I really did," the crying man says. He says this more to himself than anyone else, like he's pissed at himself.

"Ten years of marriage, in the toilet," the man grunts, putting his face in his hands. Looking around, I do find it odd no one else cares about this, but it is Valentine's. Any other day people would be flocking to find out what is happening, but not today. Not when love and booze is in the air.

Curious, I turn to see how the pool table couple are doing. I'm not surprised to see that the guy has moved on from working the top half of his girlfriend to working the bottom half. His hand is now jammed down the front of her jeans. Not wanting to see any more, I turn but from what I do see it looks painful as he really has to jam his hand down those tight jeans.

"Ten years? Damn, has it been that long already?" the crying man's friend remarks.

Hearing him say that sends a twinge of pain over me. I was married for ten years too, well, almost. If we would have hung on for a couple more months, it would have been ten years. But she couldn't hang on. Even if we had been together as a couple for fifteen years.

My heart darkens as I think of my ex-wife. The one I thought I would be with forever. The one that left me. The one that cheated on me. But, it's over now and though I've gotten over it for the most part, that sadness will always linger. It's a scar that smarts whenever you touch it.