Hard to Get

And anyway, what does it matter? We pick up and move on. Nomads do it all the time. I read a book about a man who was deeply in love with a woman, but she left him. She explained to him that it was part of her culture; she HAD to go. He waved goodbye to her.

Of course I cried like anyone would, had they the necessary brain power... it was so very moving. But then, I thought, Why the fuck didn't he just go with her? He was a drifter, man! He had no family, no ties, and the town wasn't very happy with his relationship with her anyway! So he could have escaped persecution, found a purpose and fulfillment, been with the girl of his dreams. But he didn't. He watched her go and waved.

What he fuck is wrong with you, stupid manboy? She told you she HAD to, you spent three days lying naked on top of each other, and every third minute, she said how she did not want to leave you, and you STAYED! Was this playing hard to get concept so thoroughly ingrained within you that you wouldn't suck up your pride, leave the abandoned medical waste shelter you were squatting, and actually do something with your life?

I set the book on fire.