The List...

FIVE REASONS

Tanaka sat at his desk with a pen in his hands. Rura had asked him to give her five reasons why he was breaking up with her for them to discuss in a week’s time. She wasn’t content with his, ‘it’s just not working anymore’ explanation. Her response had been, ‘Yes Tanaka, the relationship is not working because you have stopped putting in the work. You have been like this for three months now and I have been watching and waiting for you to tell me what’s going on.  When we agreed to date, you asked me out and I asked for five reasons why I should consider it. You presented strong reasons and I said yes. The same shall be true for a break up; you have asked me for it and I am asking for five reasons why we should break up and thereafter I will respond. You have until next week.’

Today was the last day of the week and he had nothing. He put the pen down and looked out the window. Did he have to do this? Granted they had been together for four years. That is a considerably long period of time. She had the right to request a better explanation.

Did he really have to do this? This was typical Rura behaviour, she was no push over.

After ten minutes of mulling over whether or not he had to do this, Tanaka realised that the problem was not whether or not he had to do this or not, the problem was he did not have five solid reasons to give her…

He picked up his pen again and tried to write again

1.       You are always busy

That made no sense. He was also always busy.

1.       You are stubborn

She was actually being stubborn right now, making him write this list.

She was stubborn but never without reason. Her stubbornness had actually saved him from his own stupidity a couple of times.

1.       You are too strong, I don’t think you will be a submissive wife

He felt silly writing that down, she wasn’t too strong. He was just weaker than she was.

Maybe he needed her strength to cover up for his weakness.

Who even uses the word submissive in 2020?

1.       He had met someone at a workshop a month ago. They had been getting to know each other and he wanted to find out what opportunities lay there. She was beautiful and she listened, she hung on to his every word

He knew exactly what she would say. He had heard her advise her friend in a situation.  ‘The beautiful are yet to be born. It’s about 80/20’. Are you really going to leave 80% to pursue 20%’?

Tanaka put down the pen and picked up his phone instead. She picked up on the third ring.

‘Hi Rura’

‘Hi Tanaka, are you calling because you are done with the list?’

‘Never mind the list Rura. What are you doing tonight?’