The Dating Chronicles – Dissatisfied

The Dating Chronicles

Dissatisfied

It seemed Tom had always been there.  He and Claudia had been together for two years and she wore her dissatisfaction with him for all to see.  She was feverish for any outward expression of what he felt or thought and worn from wondering and guessing about his feelings for her. 

She complained often to her best friend Gayle, as she longed for a glimpse of emotion from him.  She knew that her continuous barrage of gifts and scented cards were spoiling him and that she was too good to him, but this was all a part of her plan to encourage more emotional or affectionate expression. 

She had long since realized that her behavior was manipulative and fruitless, but she kept trying anyway. She wanted a man who was effusive in sentiment and she invested a lot to make Tom be the one.  She planned elaborate meals and expensive outings, where he accompanied her like an assigned escort rather than a romantic interest.

 She didn’t really expect him to do for her exactly what she did for him, but she felt shortchanged that his contribution to the relationship was minimal compared to hers.  All plans and initiations came from her and when she beckoned, he came, but it was not enough.  She asked and he did it, but his robot-style was more than she could bear.

She needed to feel cherished and see it reflected in his eyes.  She also wanted him to be sensitive to what pleased her and move to do it without a push.  In her mind, there was no comfort or care in his arms, only a detached presence to keep her from being alone.

She had requirements, but he didn’t seem to notice.  Yet, though his arms hung limp at his sides when she came near and his eyes held no warmth for her, she continued to push and prod for more affection.  And the more she labored, the less she got.

Then one day, Tom disappeared without a word and as she fretted about his whereabouts, she sorely missed the gentility of his quietness and the comfort of his presence.  Therefore, when she learned he’d eloped with her best friend Gayle, she had to be hospitalized with a nervous breakdown.