—
Yesterday, things were off. I was a bit more quiet than usual. Kala was eager to converse, eager to tell me about her day. She could tell I was distracted. She continually asked me what was wrong. “Nothing,” I said. But I know she could feel I wasn’t fully present, emotionally.
At dinner, I was spaced out. I was lost. I know she felt it. She internalized it. She asked if what she’d prepared was gross… “Does it taste that bad?” “It‘s great,” I said… but I know she didn’t believe me.
As we went to bed, I laid awake, eyes open. I stared at the ceiling until she made her way under the covers. I turned on the tv, directing the Apple TV to youtube.
“What have I done?”
“Why are you so distant?”
There was a quiver in her voice, and all at once, I knew that I had caused this. I knew that honesty was the only way I could acknowledge my distance and how I’d made her feel…
So I got honest.
“Sweetheart,” I said… “I have to be honest with you.”
“Ok,” she responded, with a shortness of breath and an extended exhale.
“My bike’s new gas tank comes in next week. I can’t decide if I want to paint it flat black or gloss black.”
And ladies, THAT is the difference between men and women.
Yes, true story, with maybe one or two artistic embellishments for emphasis.
—
Previously published on Facebook.
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Photo provided by the author.