Open letter to Al
Since I have no clue whether he's read my emails or heard the phone messages I left.
Dear Al,
I hope that my presence does not keep you away from this place, where you seemed to be having fun and made a lot of friends in a very short time. I will neither stalk you nor have a nervous breakdown. I will say everything I want to say here, and you need never speak to me again if that is your choosing. Since you couldn't be bothered to even leave me a Dear John letter, I'll leave one for you.
Thank you for leaving me before you had a chance to break my heart. Thank you for timing it perfectly so that I felt joy, happiness, elation, awe, and wonder, but didn't have time to fall in love with you. You're a smart man; I'm sure you knew that was happening. I'm sorry you weren't enough of a man to share your thoughts and feelings with me.
I'm glad for the time we had together, for the laughter and kisses and caresses we shared. Nothing can change the fact that you will forever be the one to give me my first of many things, so I might as well treasure those memories. I'm glad that I didn't give all of myself to you, either physically or emotionally.
Most of all, though, I thank whatever gods may be for the appreciation you gave me for my friends, who gave me advice and support before, during, and after; and for my jewel of a wife, the best partner a person could have, who healed as best she could the wounds you left open and bleeding.
Thank you, Al, for showing me which mistakes to not make the next time.
Dear Al,
I hope that my presence does not keep you away from this place, where you seemed to be having fun and made a lot of friends in a very short time. I will neither stalk you nor have a nervous breakdown. I will say everything I want to say here, and you need never speak to me again if that is your choosing. Since you couldn't be bothered to even leave me a Dear John letter, I'll leave one for you.
Thank you for leaving me before you had a chance to break my heart. Thank you for timing it perfectly so that I felt joy, happiness, elation, awe, and wonder, but didn't have time to fall in love with you. You're a smart man; I'm sure you knew that was happening. I'm sorry you weren't enough of a man to share your thoughts and feelings with me.
I'm glad for the time we had together, for the laughter and kisses and caresses we shared. Nothing can change the fact that you will forever be the one to give me my first of many things, so I might as well treasure those memories. I'm glad that I didn't give all of myself to you, either physically or emotionally.
Most of all, though, I thank whatever gods may be for the appreciation you gave me for my friends, who gave me advice and support before, during, and after; and for my jewel of a wife, the best partner a person could have, who healed as best she could the wounds you left open and bleeding.
Thank you, Al, for showing me which mistakes to not make the next time.