by odradek » Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:45 am
I walked home in a cold rain tonight. I mention it because I think it's an appropriatee ellipsis to what's happening the last few weeks of my life: unpleasant but with a weirdly redemptive quality.
My ex-girlfriend has played me like a yo-yo for the past two weeks. I would classify it as "unfair" (to me). It's incredible the number of situations in which she can insinuate herself as someone who's still in a relationship with me, still my girlfriend, and then take a hammer to that idea before my eyes and be clueless that she's done that. It hurts me. She does not understand the thing that she's doing that hurts me. I do not like it.
After a week of being yo-yo'd, I make a point to put an end to it. I send her a curt text message: "Plan on having a talk." I am guarded. I do not want to be toyed with. I do not want what I believe the state of things to be to be messed with.
She comes over. I ask her: "What do you want?"
She tells me one of the most horrific things I've heard in my life: "For several months, I have felt alone in this relationship." I can't imagine a thing I would like to do less to her than that. Additionally, I can't understand how she's come about to that feeling, even over several months. In the past she has mentioned specific things: "I don't like that I can't reach you when you're on travel. I wish you sent more text messages." When she has said these things, I have amended my behavior. These are not the things that make her feel...hollow? They are symptoms of something I cannot understand. I am unable to read subtext. The subtext has come to collect its due.
We have had two talks prior. She has said things like "When you're around, I feel like you are present, but I feel like you aren't there when you're away." I did not know how to deal with this. I do not like using telephones or sending text messages. I would rather spend time with a person in person. I have nevertheless made time to call her, made sure I sent text messages when I could. I understand, nebulously, that this is a problem, but as an engineer I am frustrated that it is not a formally defined problem. It is not a problem I can fix or even know how to fix. I am doing my best.
I am accused of being distant in the past few days. I am told that that she did not believe I was invested in the relationship. I am told that she felt that I would be "ok" if she broke up with me, that I would not crumble if she weren't there and that that is an indication that I am not where I need to be vis a vis the relationship. I am told that I am not sufficiently supportive. I am told that the points at which I said things like "I take you for granted and should be a better boyfriend" were not indications of my understanding of our relationship and points of departure from which I would pay more attention to her needs, times when I decided to do more for the relationship, were instead bullets that injured her and could be picked up and re-used on me.
I learn that I was, for several months, a terrible boyfriend.
I do not believe that I was a terrible boyfriend. I do not understand the failure points of our relationship. I do not understand what she wants. I am not alone. My friends, her friends, incidental acquaintances like coworkers are all shocked and confused by her attitude towards me, towards our relationship. I am confused in the same way. I know things that I could have done differently but don't know if they would work. I don't think I've learned anything.
I hate every moment of this.