Sent: Fri Mar 31 09:07:43 2006

Despite appearances, I haven't been happy for a very long time.

I don't know how else to sum it up succinctly, and I know that sounds oversimplified. I just can't think of another way to say it without going into too many details.

A little over a year before the wedding, I stopped wearing my engagement ring. Michael said he could change. He didn't want to move in with his sister. I didn't particularly want to search for a new roommate. I thought we needed some time apart; he didn't agree. I thought of how disappointed everyone would be if we separated. I thought of how most of "our" friends were really "his," and I wouldn't have anyone left. He said he would change, and he did make a valiant effort, but it wasn't enough.

As I saw it, I only had two choices then: leave Michael and all my friends and half my family (Dottie, Joe, Poppy, Kris) or stay with Michael and pretend to be happy. If I could just pretend to be happy, I could make everyone else around me happy. So, that was the decision I made.

Being the little planner that I am, I figured the next logical step was to get Michael to graduate. Then, the wedding. Then, the move to New Jersey. That was where Michael wanted to be. It's where he's always wanted to be. And I honestly thought I wouldn't mind being there too.

But before the move, I met Darrell. I never intended to be unfaithful to Michael. I just enjoyed spending time with him. He's so sensitive and intuitive, and so much fun to be around. Michael didn't like me spending time with Darrell after a while, and I suppose with good reason, but the way I saw it, Darrell and Chattanooga trips were the only happiness I had left, and I wasn't giving either up.

As I saw it, I only had two choices again: leave Michael and all my friends and half my family (Dottie, Joe, Poppy, Kris) or stay with Michael, pretend to be happy, and see Darrell behind everyone's back. It's funny how I never saw being honest as an option after a certain point.

But I want to be honest again. I want to communicate and be an honest person. And when the Darrell topic came up with Michael in New Jersey, I tried to lie, I did. I wanted to get Michael situated with a job and a house in New Jersey before left there (after a certain point, I realized I couldn't stay there with him), but the discussion arose much too early, and I couldn't lie my way out of it. I tried, and I just couldn't.

Michael said he could forgive me. He could change (again). The one stipulation was no more communication with Darrell. I thought at first I could do this, but then realized I couldn't. I love Michael, but I am in love with Darrell. One of my favorite sayings is that you don't have to like someone to love them. And the truth is, I didn't like Michael anymore. But I did and do still love him. Not in the way he needs to be loved, though. I just can't be who he, his family, and our friends need me to be anymore.

Of course, this has alienated me from his family. I doubt they will be in contact with me again in the future.

Michael and I are still close friends, closer now than I think we have ever been. After all this happened, we became painfully and totally honest with each other. Ironically, if we could have just had that all this time, everything probably would have been much better. He's living with his sister now with Osagi and Houdini.

I'm staying with Darrell with the cats. I've never been so totally, all-encompassing in love with someone, and it's made me so happy. This whole thing has been so bittersweet... so difficult to do, but it feels so RIGHT to be here. I feel like I belong here.

And I guess what it all boils down to is that I can't sacrifice my own happiness for everyone else's anymore. I can't plan out every minute of my future without keeping my own sanity in mind. And I can't stick to plans when I realize they're doomed to lead me to misery. I can't be dishonest with my friends and family about what I want in life. And I have to communicate.

So, here you have it... the abridged version of the story.

I hope you meant it when you said I would never be a disappointment to you.

I'm sorry for not communicating with you and being dishonest with you. I'm sorry for pretending to be happy with Michael. I'm sorry for planning and thinking I could live with my decisions without being happy.

Michael and I might make some day trips into town to karaoke and visit, if that is still okay. He said he would like that.

And please accept Darrell. I know he is quite a bit older than I am, but he means the world to me, and he is taking good care of me. He's agreed to let me stay here and will cover me until I can find a steady income again. He's even eating my veggie food (now, *that's* love! ha!). I feel at home here already.

PS: Is it normal to go through a mid-life crisis at 25? :^P

Labels: stories

posted by Jennifer at 5/03/2006 12:33:00 PM