“I took a bad reaction out on you, something that's getting to be a habit. I don't like the habit.”
“All right.”
“I thought I'd moved on from having that kind of a reaction to Artie. Apparently not.”
He dipped his hands into his pockets.
“I don't like going back there, so I don't. There's no point. I understand you were trying to help.”
“But you don't want any help.”
“I don't want to need any. I think that's a little different.That's no excuse for lashing out at you.”
“I'm not asking for excuses, Malcolm. I don't need excuses when I know the reason.”
“I guess I'm still working on the reason. So . . . I'm going to take off. Give us both a little time to smooth out.”
“While you're smoothing, ask yourself this. Ask yourself if you actually believe I think less of a boy, one grieving for his father, for striking back, for looking for an escape from an abusive bully who held every control. Or if I think less of the man he made himself into because of it.When you're sure of the answer, let me know.”
She opened the door.
“Good night, Malcolm.”
“Parker? Whatever the answer, I still want you.”
“You know where to find me,” she said, and closed the door behind her.
Happy Ever After
“All right.”
“I thought I'd moved on from having that kind of a reaction to Artie. Apparently not.”
He dipped his hands into his pockets.
“I don't like going back there, so I don't. There's no point. I understand you were trying to help.”
“But you don't want any help.”
“I don't want to need any. I think that's a little different.That's no excuse for lashing out at you.”
“I'm not asking for excuses, Malcolm. I don't need excuses when I know the reason.”
“I guess I'm still working on the reason. So . . . I'm going to take off. Give us both a little time to smooth out.”
“While you're smoothing, ask yourself this. Ask yourself if you actually believe I think less of a boy, one grieving for his father, for striking back, for looking for an escape from an abusive bully who held every control. Or if I think less of the man he made himself into because of it.When you're sure of the answer, let me know.”
She opened the door.
“Good night, Malcolm.”
“Parker? Whatever the answer, I still want you.”
“You know where to find me,” she said, and closed the door behind her.
Happy Ever After
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By Daniel Sone (Photographer) [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Here's why being annoyed with your partner could be a sign that your relationship is going great
In a world of those highlight reels we call social media, it can be more difficult than ever to accept when we’re not feeling the most amicable toward our romantic partners.
Little frustrations here and there often turn into big ones if we aren’t careful.
Sometimes it even makes us wonder if we’re just wasting our time with this person who annoys us, considering everyone else on Facebook and Instagram just looks so darn happy all the time.
But there’s actually good news for those of us who find ourselves getting annoyed with our partners,according to a TIME article written by relationship coach Kira Asatryan.
“There’s no doubt that the ability to manage conflict—even low-level conflict—is an essential relationship skill”
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“We didn't fight. And if I got my feelings hurt, it's because—and you'll have to deal with this—I'm in love with him.”
“Oh.” He sat back, hands on his thighs. “I'm going to need a minute.”
“Take your time. I'm taking mine. Because we're all going to have to deal with it, Del. You, me. And Malcolm.”
She nudged his knees aside, got up.
“Let's go eat before Mrs. G sends out a search party.”
“I want you happy, Parker.”
“Del.” She took his hand. “I want me happy, too.”
Happy Ever After
“Oh.” He sat back, hands on his thighs. “I'm going to need a minute.”
“Take your time. I'm taking mine. Because we're all going to have to deal with it, Del. You, me. And Malcolm.”
She nudged his knees aside, got up.
“Let's go eat before Mrs. G sends out a search party.”
“I want you happy, Parker.”
“Del.” She took his hand. “I want me happy, too.”
Happy Ever After