The Dare That Ended Us
My girlfriend, Clara Sutton, had severe mysophobia.
Before every intimate moment we shared, she required me to disinfect myself thoroughly in advance.
She even set strict rules about how often we could kiss or sleep together, and how long it could last.
Without her permission, I was not allowed to touch her.
I had always believed she treated everyone this way. I even secretly felt relieved, thinking that I must have been somewhat special to her.
Then came that night at the bar.
During a party, her childhood friend, Ethan Ford, drew a dare in a game of truth or dare.
Then, in front of everyone, he leaned in and kissed Clara.
Although it was supposedly a punishment for losing, they kissed deeply for a full five minutes.
Our friends laughed and jostled one another as they turned to look at me.
Only then did I realize that Clara’s obsession with cleanliness had never been a universal rule. It had existed simply because she did not like me.
Disheartened, I asked for a breakup.
But Clara soon regretted it.
With reddened eyes, she begged me not to leave.