The Edge of Disaster (personal drama)
Posted: 2003-10-13 03:53am
Have you ever been so sorely tempted to do something, something that would at that moment bring immense gratification, yet couldn't because you knew the consequences would certainly be disastrous?
My friend was having a rough night. She was feeling particularly lonely and somewhat without hope. She said she was sneaking out to take a walk and I offered to meet her so she could talk about things. So we go and we find a secluded place to park at, and she gets stuff off her chest, and then she says it's about time she was heading home.
She had me stop a few blocks short of her house, so that if anyone woke up and noticed her absence, I wouldn't be connected. Before she got out, she leaned over and gave me a hug. She holds me a little tighter than usual. I respond in kind.
She buried her head in my shoulder. I thought she must be having a particularly rough night. I decided (and this is where I made a mistake) to run my hand through her hair.
She seemed to respond positively, so I kept stroking her head gently. It was a tight embrace. Our heads were right up against each other, and at one point her face was nearly right against my neck.
For a moment I wondered if she was going to kiss me or something. But I realized that was extremely improbable, because she has a fiance who lives far away. And she's convinced that if she slips in any way, she'll lose him, because he's emotionally fragile.
But still, holding her like I was, knowing that we were both lonely people craving intimacy, I was physically two centimeters away and mentally a paper-thickness away from giving in and kissing her.
If I had, we would have had perhaps a second of joy, followed by total regret afterwards... I would have destroyed a relationship and broken two hearts.
And I was still tempted to do it anyway, partially in the interest of making her feel better, but really to fulfill this hunger I have to be close with someone.
I suppose what's important is that I didn't do it. But it was still extremely unnerving to know that I was so very close to disaster and still tempted to do the wrong thing. Because, while I'm not sure if she'd forgive me for that, I know that I wouldn't be able to forgive myself... not for a very long time, at least.
When we got home and got online, she confided in me that she was afraid that if I had done anything, she wouldn't have tried to stop me... we were both tempted.
After a night's sleep and talking to a couple people about it, I feel better... but I still felt like sharing.
My friend was having a rough night. She was feeling particularly lonely and somewhat without hope. She said she was sneaking out to take a walk and I offered to meet her so she could talk about things. So we go and we find a secluded place to park at, and she gets stuff off her chest, and then she says it's about time she was heading home.
She had me stop a few blocks short of her house, so that if anyone woke up and noticed her absence, I wouldn't be connected. Before she got out, she leaned over and gave me a hug. She holds me a little tighter than usual. I respond in kind.
She buried her head in my shoulder. I thought she must be having a particularly rough night. I decided (and this is where I made a mistake) to run my hand through her hair.
She seemed to respond positively, so I kept stroking her head gently. It was a tight embrace. Our heads were right up against each other, and at one point her face was nearly right against my neck.
For a moment I wondered if she was going to kiss me or something. But I realized that was extremely improbable, because she has a fiance who lives far away. And she's convinced that if she slips in any way, she'll lose him, because he's emotionally fragile.
But still, holding her like I was, knowing that we were both lonely people craving intimacy, I was physically two centimeters away and mentally a paper-thickness away from giving in and kissing her.
If I had, we would have had perhaps a second of joy, followed by total regret afterwards... I would have destroyed a relationship and broken two hearts.
And I was still tempted to do it anyway, partially in the interest of making her feel better, but really to fulfill this hunger I have to be close with someone.
I suppose what's important is that I didn't do it. But it was still extremely unnerving to know that I was so very close to disaster and still tempted to do the wrong thing. Because, while I'm not sure if she'd forgive me for that, I know that I wouldn't be able to forgive myself... not for a very long time, at least.
When we got home and got online, she confided in me that she was afraid that if I had done anything, she wouldn't have tried to stop me... we were both tempted.
After a night's sleep and talking to a couple people about it, I feel better... but I still felt like sharing.