Breaking up Over One Cup of Yogurt
At our company dinner, my girlfriend, Katherine Hale, makes a detour to get some treats.
She hands a glass of juice to my childhood friend, Mark Langley, who is sitting opposite us. Then, she sets down a cup of yogurt in front of me.
Mark thanks her with a smile. "How thoughtful of you! You remembered I can't have iced drinks because of my gastric issues."
I stare at the cup of yogurt with mango bits in it. Then, I nudge it further away from me, my expression blank.
"What's the matter?" Katherine asks casually.
I respond, "I'm allergic to mangoes. Did you forget that again?"
She freezes for a moment. Then, she smiles and shrugs. "Come on, it's no big deal. Just pick out the mango bits."
But she never forgets that Mark doesn't want any cilantro or onion in his food. Also, he only accepts chilled juice without any ice or sugar.
Meanwhile, I have difficulty breathing if I take even a single bite of mango, but she thinks it's fine as long as I pick them out.
Turns out, if one is biased enough, they can overlook even matters of life and death.
On our way home, I sit in the back seat as usual.
I look at the two people in the front, who seem perfect for each other. All of a sudden, I feel relief washing over me.
Katherine can't even remember my allergies, so what am I holding onto this relationship for?