Mary worked at a retail store I worked at around the year 2000. Mary had an intellectual disability that caused her to have a low IQ, and she seemed to have cerebral palsy as well. She always smiled and said hi to me when I walked by in back. One day I made fun of her in a stupid way, and she instantly gave me a cold, knowing look. Mary was middle-aged. She'd probably had assholes treat her like that all her life. I admired Mary for her show of self respect, and her ability to shoot it right back at me caught me by surprise. If I'd wanted to become friends with Mary because of this, that would have been entirely Mary's prerogative.
I have more in common with Mary than I have with someone such as this young woman who works at this business whom I go on about so much. I've had to deal with very ugly sides of human nature on a personal level all of my adult life. I don't feel like I have to meet this young woman's expectations anymore. I've written many times that I care for her a great deal and that I am very fond of her, and I mean it. But, I've also said that I can accept an outcome where myself and this young woman don't become girlfriend and boyfriend, and I mean that as well.
I have more in common with Mary than I have with someone such as this young woman who works at this business whom I go on about so much. I've had to deal with very ugly sides of human nature on a personal level all of my adult life. I don't feel like I have to meet this young woman's expectations anymore. I've written many times that I care for her a great deal and that I am very fond of her, and I mean it. But, I've also said that I can accept an outcome where myself and this young woman don't become girlfriend and boyfriend, and I mean that as well.
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