Opposites

The Proposal

Today is the day Cassie's boyfriend returns from LA and her Mom already got her thinking what he wants to say to her. Proposals obviously require two people to be madly in love with each other... in this case, Cassie's madly in love with her work. Anyways, Cassie gets ready to meet Joey and she has a sense of anticipation and nervousness but underlying guilt that's won't go away. But obviously, she pushes it aside just like all emotion-related issues. Cassie waits at the airport until she spots the familiar face.

"Joey!"

Cassie goes in for a hug only for Joey to not respond. Obviously, Cassie doesn't notice.

"Hey Cassie... we need to talk"
"I think I know what this is about"
"You do?"

Their eyes meet before they speak at the same time

"Yes, you're going to propose"
"I'm breaking up with you"

This moment passed quickly but is Cassies's ears the sentence "I'm breaking up with you" was in slow motion. Wow, what a low blow... especially when she was expecting a ring. They both speak at the same time again.

"You're breaking up with me?"
"You thought I was proposing?"
"Well, I obviously didn't think what your heart wanted was to break up with me."
"I can't believe you thought I was going to propose."
"Is that so hard to believe or are you trying to say I'm not the marrying type"-
"Stop. Before you have a go at me, just listen, please. When we first met, you were full of the workforce and I loved it. I loved how you never gave up and you delivered more than people expected you to but as you got busier and busier, you had less time for anyone in your life. At first, I thought it's not going to be like this for long but you... you just kept going and going And I held on for as long as I could because I actually loved you like a fool ... but you don't love me and you can deny it but I know you don't. We hardly texted let alone talked, at times I thought she's going to text me, I know she is but there came a time where I was lucky enough to even get a reply. When I went to LA, I met someone... and I think she likes me and I think I like her and I mean really like her and I've not felt that way about someone since the day I met you. I just think it's time to go our separate ways, we're just not on the same page... I'm not sure, we ever were."

Ouch. 4 years disregarded just like that. With tears in her eyes, she tries to console him but it's already too late.

"Joey I'm sure there's something we can do"-
"I'm sorry Cas, it's too late"

I told you it's too late.

"I have a flight to London in a bit... I'm going to have to go."
"So you just came from LA to New York to break up with me and then go to England."
"Would you rather have me break up with you over a text? A call? Doubt you would've seen those."

Double ouch. Cassie realises in this really crappy moment that if Joey was one of those types of guys, this moment could've been a lot crappier. In fact, he came off as more gracious if anything.

"So this is goodbye then?"
"I'm sorry."
"Well then, I just want to wish you luck, I'm sure this girl and you are gonna be very happy... and you don't have to but I hope you see me as a friend, one that actually will start replying to your calls and texts."

They both laugh while tears stream down both their faces.

"I will. Cas, you deserve happiness as well, and one day there is going to be the right guy for you and he's going to make you the happiest girl ever.. just don't forget to make him feel like luckiest guy ever. Don't deny your self that happiness."

After a look of acknowledgement, Joey leaves and doesn't look back. Cassie goes back to her car and slumps in her seat before driving back to her apartment. So this is how things are going not to plans so far, she didn't get promoted, she didn't get engaged and now Cassie's just waiting for the next big development in this downfall. In another world, she would've got what she wanted but that unknowingly would've made her unhappy, she just doesn't know it yet. While she gets into her apartment and stares out to the New York skyline.

"Hi, Mom?"
"Hey sweetie, how did it go?"
"He broke up with me."
"Oh sweetheart, are you okay."
"I can't believe I'm saying this but I am fine... Mom, I don't think I loved him the way he loved me. To be honest I don't think I loved him enough for us to be life partners."

As Cassie continues to fill her Mom in, she felt lighter and lighter. She may be delusional when it comes to her work ethic but she's smart enough to know that what she and Joey had wasn't love. Remember that underlying guilt, it's because she knew that she didn't think of Joey as a soul mate, he was just convenient for her but she couldn't do the same for anyone let alone him. She realised that she had been selfish as she dragged a person along for 4 years for it to end like this. Well there are life lessons to be learnt and at least Cassie knows now what her mistakes were and maybe there won't be another one that got away.