back, go with the
flow and enjoy the ride, Syd. It could end tomorrow, a year from
now, or never. So enjoy every little bit of it. No one knows what
life has in store for him or her, so why waste it worrying about it
instead of living it? Am I right?”
“ You’re so damned
down-to-earth and logical. I need to just let things happen. I over
think things all the time. That’s my biggest downfall.”
“ I’m glad to hear you say
it out loud. Now I want to see you actually do it. I’m so happy for
you. I can’t wait to meet him.”
“ I’m afraid. Not of you,
you’re a doll. I’m afraid of introducing him to Cheryl. She’s
already upset about him living with me. She’ll scare him
away.”
“ No, she won’t. Don’t be
silly.” Gina giggled. “Her bark is worse than her bite. You know
that. As soon as she meets him, and sees how happy you are, she’ll
be on board with this whole thing. Just wait, you’ll
see.”
I heard the phone jumble around, and
then it was Cheryl on the other end. Cheryl would put everything
into perspective for me. She would give me the pros and cons
unbiasedly. I’d have plenty of food-for-thought and I could stop
fighting with myself in my head.
“ I told you not to
encourage her, G. Sydney, are you okay? Is everything all
right?”
“ Everything is fine. My
things are all where I left them, except for some leaves and
weeds.”
“ Okay, good. Well, I’m not
on the approval-bandwagon yet. I think you need to slow things way
down.” There was Cheryl’s bluntness coming through. It was only a
matter of time before she opened up and really let me know
how she felt.
“ But I’m happy. I mean,
this guy, he’s different. I just feel so much for him already. It’s
been such a short time but we’re already so connected. It’s just
happening all on its own.” I knew I didn’t need to get her
approval, but I did want her to accept him.
“ It’s been two days,
Sydney, and not even full days yet. That’s insane. What are you
going to do when he’s done with you?” Cheryl was asserting her big
sister or motherly side. It didn’t matter; it was all the same to
me. I had asked for her opinion by calling, so I needed to be ready
to hear what she had to say and accept it or not.
“ It’s not like that. He
feels the same way I do.” I pouted.
“ And how is that exactly,
Sydney?”
“ We both feel very strongly
for each other.”
“ And he told you
that?”
“ Not in so many
words.”
“ So you’re assuming he
feels the same way? What if this is all one-sided?”
“ Don’t be silly. He’s let
me know he’s as interested in me, just as much as I am in him,” I
said convincingly.
“ When are you going to
realize that it could all just be a novelty, Sydney? If it is, it’s
going to wear off. You just can bet on it. Wait until he gets
settled back into his real life. You might not be needed
anymore.”
“ I don’t understand what
you’re saying. What do you mean a novelty?” I could feel my blood
pressure starting to rise.
“ You don’t want to
understand, Syd. You’re just not thinking over the logistics of
this whole thing. He had a life before the military, and it’s going
to rear its ugly head somewhere down the line and probably when you
least expect it. You’ll be tossed to the side with nothing but
heartache. Do you really think he’s going to choose you over the
life he had before? Are you prepared for that? The whole idea of
what’s happening between you, it’s like meeting a cute guy on
spring break. You have a great time together, you promise to keep
in touch, but when you get home it’s all forgotten. Be ready in
case this isn’t going to last.”
And that was about all I could take.
“You’re … you’re wrong! How do you know that? Maybe I’m the one
he’s meant to be with. Maybe he’ll choose me. I swear to God,
you’ll see, Cheryl. Can’t you just believe in me for once? Why
can’t I be the girl with the fairytale
flow and enjoy the ride, Syd. It could end tomorrow, a year from
now, or never. So enjoy every little bit of it. No one knows what
life has in store for him or her, so why waste it worrying about it
instead of living it? Am I right?”
“ You’re so damned
down-to-earth and logical. I need to just let things happen. I over
think things all the time. That’s my biggest downfall.”
“ I’m glad to hear you say
it out loud. Now I want to see you actually do it. I’m so happy for
you. I can’t wait to meet him.”
“ I’m afraid. Not of you,
you’re a doll. I’m afraid of introducing him to Cheryl. She’s
already upset about him living with me. She’ll scare him
away.”
“ No, she won’t. Don’t be
silly.” Gina giggled. “Her bark is worse than her bite. You know
that. As soon as she meets him, and sees how happy you are, she’ll
be on board with this whole thing. Just wait, you’ll
see.”
I heard the phone jumble around, and
then it was Cheryl on the other end. Cheryl would put everything
into perspective for me. She would give me the pros and cons
unbiasedly. I’d have plenty of food-for-thought and I could stop
fighting with myself in my head.
“ I told you not to
encourage her, G. Sydney, are you okay? Is everything all
right?”
“ Everything is fine. My
things are all where I left them, except for some leaves and
weeds.”
“ Okay, good. Well, I’m not
on the approval-bandwagon yet. I think you need to slow things way
down.” There was Cheryl’s bluntness coming through. It was only a
matter of time before she opened up and really let me know
how she felt.
“ But I’m happy. I mean,
this guy, he’s different. I just feel so much for him already. It’s
been such a short time but we’re already so connected. It’s just
happening all on its own.” I knew I didn’t need to get her
approval, but I did want her to accept him.
“ It’s been two days,
Sydney, and not even full days yet. That’s insane. What are you
going to do when he’s done with you?” Cheryl was asserting her big
sister or motherly side. It didn’t matter; it was all the same to
me. I had asked for her opinion by calling, so I needed to be ready
to hear what she had to say and accept it or not.
“ It’s not like that. He
feels the same way I do.” I pouted.
“ And how is that exactly,
Sydney?”
“ We both feel very strongly
for each other.”
“ And he told you
that?”
“ Not in so many
words.”
“ So you’re assuming he
feels the same way? What if this is all one-sided?”
“ Don’t be silly. He’s let
me know he’s as interested in me, just as much as I am in him,” I
said convincingly.
“ When are you going to
realize that it could all just be a novelty, Sydney? If it is, it’s
going to wear off. You just can bet on it. Wait until he gets
settled back into his real life. You might not be needed
anymore.”
“ I don’t understand what
you’re saying. What do you mean a novelty?” I could feel my blood
pressure starting to rise.
“ You don’t want to
understand, Syd. You’re just not thinking over the logistics of
this whole thing. He had a life before the military, and it’s going
to rear its ugly head somewhere down the line and probably when you
least expect it. You’ll be tossed to the side with nothing but
heartache. Do you really think he’s going to choose you over the
life he had before? Are you prepared for that? The whole idea of
what’s happening between you, it’s like meeting a cute guy on
spring break. You have a great time together, you promise to keep
in touch, but when you get home it’s all forgotten. Be ready in
case this isn’t going to last.”
And that was about all I could take.
“You’re … you’re wrong! How do you know that? Maybe I’m the one
he’s meant to be with. Maybe he’ll choose me. I swear to God,
you’ll see, Cheryl. Can’t you just believe in me for once? Why
can’t I be the girl with the fairytale
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