The giver

Has anyone ever told you they're always the giver in a relationship? Guys tell me this often. Now I believe the opposite is true in most cases. It's become a reason to walk away. No, a reason to run.

Last night I walked down to the pub for a glass of wine. A guy I've met a few times sat at the bar with me for a bit. In the time he was there, he told me the better part of his last five years on this planet. Funny thing is, I don't remember asking.

Then he wiped tears from his eyes. And later he told me I made him cry. Really? I hardly said a word. And I don't know this guy at all outside of last night's 30 minute therapy session.

He cried because of a breakup, and he's glad she's happy with the guy she left him for.

"Wow, was this recent?" I asked.

He wiped his eyes again and paused. "No, not really. It was about six months ago."

I bit my tongue to keep myself from saying what I wanted to say. "Perhaps it's time to move on," I said, wishing for a to-go cup for my wine.

While he was talking about his ex, he told me how he was always the one who gave and she didn't appreciate it. After all of that time sitting with him, all he knows about me is my first name and what I do for a living, which he asked me twice since he probably was too busy "giving" rather than listening the first time I told him.

He's not the first to say they're the giver. I don't know if he is, but I do know from a experience a couple of other men definitely are not.

When I got home, I looked in the mirror for the therapist sign on my forehead. I think I'll start charging for listening like Lucy did on Peanuts. After all of that, he didn't even buy my $2.50 glass of wine.

Love to the single girls,
Addison