She Remembers Everyone's Order, Except Mine
During a game of Truth or Dare at a gathering with friends, my girlfriend, Bridget Ellison, loses. Her punishment is to buy coffee for everyone.
Half an hour later, she returns carrying more than a dozen bags and starts handing out drinks with a smile.
"Francis, you've been pulling all-nighters for two days straight. Here's your iced long black."
"Daryl, you like java chip frappe with extra mocha sauce, right?"
"And here's yours. Lemon black tea, no ice. You've ordered it hundreds of times."
One by one, everyone gets their drink.
By the time she reaches me, only an empty bag remains. Everyone at the table freezes.
"Where's Aiden's drink?"
She pushes her peach frappe toward me and says, "I forgot. He can just share mine."
A friend immediately groans and complains, "It's the same every gathering. If you two want to show off how loving you are, can you at least come up with a new routine?"
Everyone around us laughs and teases us, but I can't bring myself to even take a sip of the drink.
I'm the only one who knows the truth. The display of affection is an act. In reality, she has truly forgotten to buy me a drink.
After four years together, Bridget still can't remember that I'm allergic to peaches.
I set the peach frappe back on the table.
I've spent four years settling for less. Now, it's time for me to leave.