A valentine

I have an anonymous valentine. It’s not something I received from someone else. It’s something I have for someone else, in the form of this post.

Pretty lame, right?

No, this is not a sign of trouble in my marriage. It’s the opposite, in a way.

Someone’s relationship – a big one – broke up this weekend. I feel bad, but I don’t know how to express it. Besides being a professional introvert (let me tell you, the pay sucks), I’ve never broken up – not counting emotional or mental states. I’ve had one steady girlfriend, one fiancé, and one wife in my life. They’ve all been the same person. You know her as Cheryl.

I could say I understand, but it would be a lie. I don’t. I’m glad I don’t.

You probably don’t know who you are. You will probably never see this. I’m not going to go out of my way to tell you it’s here. But silently, because I don’t know how else to do it, I’m hoping this event will be like the quick rip of a band-aide from a wound.

And maybe someone reading this, someone who does know what it’s like to have a relationship turn out badly – maybe they’ll send a few warm thoughts to my friend, my nameless valentine.