It’s been a few weeks since I last heard from “Prince Player”. My Ramadan was so hard this year, all things considering. But I still count on that yearly miracle.
I meet with one of my childhood friend’s before the holy month ends.
“How are you?” he asks.
“Eh. A little numb, but I’m good” I say.
He looks at me and frowns.
“My life has become the saddest Rascal Flatts song ever written” I say.
“What hurts the most?” he asks.
I laugh. “Ok the second saddest Rascal Flats song”.
“Here comes goodbye?” he tries again.
I laugh. He’s good. They are both sadder than the one I was thinking of. “Winner at a losing game” I say.
“Ah”.
We stare into the lake. Chicago weather is getting better.
“He hit me like a hurricane” I say.
“Luke Combs!” he says.
I laugh. “Yep. Prince Player really liked him”.
My phone buzzes. I gasp.
“What?” he asks shocked.
“My other hurricane…”
It’s my other ex.
I don’t believe it. I thought I’d never hear from him again.
“I gotta go” I tell my friend.
He hugs me, “be safe, everything will be okay soon”.
I hoped one day my ex would give me the apology I deserved. But after the surprising way he left my life, I didn’t know if he would.
When he calls I tell him he owes me a huge explanation for everything that happened, and an even bigger apology.
“I’m sorry Shaz. I wish what happened never did. I’ve felt bad. I know you probably hate me, but if you’re ever down to meeting up again and being friends- I’d appreciate that a lot”.
I roll my eyes.
“Have you eaten Shaz?” he asks.
“No” I say.
“What do you want?” he asks.
“A pizza” I say.
“Okay it will be there soon” he says.
I smile. “You ordered it for me?”
“Yea” he says.
He always did that for me. Wasn’t always heavy on the words like “Prince Player” was, but he always did tiny gestures like this to show he cared. And the way he made me feel…the way he made me believe in love again after “Prince Player”, “Scientist”, and my fiancee- unreal.
I remember memories with my ex. My ex, before he left, showed me good guys exist. The one that holds the door for you. The one that brings you food when you had a long day. The one that rubs your feet or back after a 10 hour shift. The one that will talk to you everyday.
I don’t know which was the bigger hurricane. Him. Or “Prince Player”.
“He’s fine Don, come on, I ain’t all holy water” oh my god I just quoted my favorite Scotty McCreery song.
I can see Don scribbling hard.
“You can’t convince me he’s not the one for me. So help me help him” I say after Prince Player misses our phone call and I hadn’t heard from him again for a few days again.
“Alright… what do you think you should say?” he asks.
“I’ll say…’You ok love?'” I suggest.
Don nods, “That’s good”.
“But then he’s going to say yes and that he was tired” I say.
“Empathize with him. How do people empathize with you when you’re feeling sick?”
“They say ‘Oh sorry Shaz. That must be so hard for you’ ”
Don nods again, “Well there you go”.
I sigh and take my own notes. “You’d think being the chief of planning a vaccination for an entire population was harder than this” I say.
Don laughs “I gotta tell you Shaz. I don’t know many people who would do this for someone. Like this s tremendously nice of you. I mean, he seems to ignore you like this often. Do you like this behavior?”
“No, but I like him” I say.
Don goes right for his Starbucks Espresso shot.
“I am right there with you!” I say taking a large sip of my Gatorade.
He laughs “You sure do come prepared”.
“I know how it looks Don. But I’m glad to have him back. After he left me last time, I felt there was so much I could have done to prevent that outcome. But I was giving up, and thus that made him give up” I say.
Don gives me a look, “Shaz. I guarantee you that is not how it happened”.
“Ok ok whatever. Maybe not. But if this happens again, I want to know that I tried my absolute best” I say resting my head on my Gatorade bottle.
Don nods slowly, “Let’s agree that you absolutely did and are doing that right now”.
“I’d just rather have him in my life than not. I don’t care about the obstacles. He is worth it” I say.
“Shaz. Are we going to have a situation like your last boyfriend?” Don asks.
I run my fingers through my hair. Ugh.
My ex was amazing when I first met him. He loved me longer and harder than anyone else. Always taking me out on dates, sometimes twice a day. Cuddling me the way I wanted to be. Buying me gifts. Meeting my friends, introducing me to his. Kissing me when I cried. Listening to our favorite country songs. Doing everything with me.
But after he left suddenly after 9 months, I blamed myself. I thought he left because he felt I didn’t value him enough.
This proved to be wrong. And after Prince Player left, he tried to seize the opportunity and get me back and manipulated me with his most recent ex. It was so, so, so bad.
I told Don then one of my favorite quotes, “When you won’t get rid of someone bad for you, God will give you an obvious sign that you need to. And it won’t be pretty”.
So that is what he is asking me about.
“Shaz?”
I snap back to reality.
“That was really bad. But I believe Prince Player is different” I say.
“Ok…good luck. If you want him, continue doing what you’re doing. Supporting him, loving him, and being patient with him” Don says.
I feel better that night. But my mind circles the next morning on what to do. Should I give him more space and wait or reach out now.
Now or later.
Now or later.
Now or later.
Omg just stop it, I tell myself. It’s been almost 72 hours and player is my lover and I want to know if he is alright and if he is still feeling what I’m feeling.
I text him.
He responds immediately. We talk. It’s nice. I think we are done for the day, but later that night as I’m setting up my alarm for my clinic shift the next morning- he texts again.
This time he opens up about how he has been feeling.
I’m sad he is feeling that way, but happy he shared with me.
I remind him how special he is and that I’ll stand by him- no matter what.
Our communication resumes and I am happy. It pauses here and there and I still don’t know when I’ll see him physically again, but, I’m ok.
It’s hard sometimes.
I wanted to talk to player last night but fell asleep before his response came in.
I wanted to text him when I saw it in the morning but then I got caught up in my very busy clinic shift.
I didn’t estimate this.
Being a frontline health care worker during the pandemic, being sick, being far away from family, and being in a long distance somewhere in between whatever with the love of your life who is struggling.
My chest hurts so bad. I hold it for a sec.
“Shaz”.
I turn to my associate.
“You good?”
I nod.
I text player after my last patient. He responds and we talk briefly. Then nothing.
One of the first traumatic experiences in my life was getting my period. You know those rare stories you hear about girls that have awful cramps and vomiting at the “time of the month”? Nice to meet you, I am Shaz and I am one of them.
Since I was 10 years old, I’d miss two days of school a month because of this thing. Weddings, birthday parties, family events, awards ceremonies also. It was awful. I remember one time I heard my aunts say “lord please don’t let Shaz be on her period this day!”
I feel bad for my mom, dad, and brother who had to support me during these times. Whether it was listening to the awful howling of me in pain, leaving work and having to pick me up from school early, or running to the store to get me more pads because my heavy bleeding made me go through all the ones we had.
It was rough. “I feel bad for you…not us” my mom said before my procedure. “All that pain you went through and are going through now, it’s not about us at all”.
When I was 18 and in college, my parents finally agreed to put me on birth control pills. Of all the things they were liberal about, they were conservative when it came to reproductive health. The adjustment took a year and it was rough, but after that first year- I was vomit free. And I only got periods 4 times a year!! HALLELUJAH. I still got mild cramps, but they were rarely severe or included vomiting and plus I didn’t get many periods. No more missing school, work, or special events. It was awesome.
Everything was going great until what happened last year. Last year, my pills totally started to fail. Not only when it came to period symptoms, but period timing. I thought cramps were bad, well I guess I didn’t realize there was something worse- 6 week long periods!!!
You know what happens next. This happened a few times, I found out I have PCOS and Endometriosis that contributed to all these symptoms, I had a breakup and had a cyst that ruptured, we tried another pill that worked miraculously for almost a year and that also became ineffective and my wonderful specialist Dr. Davis finally convinced me to get the IUD.
So that brings us to about two weeks ago:
Two weeks ago it’s the day before my IUD procedure (yes I’m calling it procedure because due to my two conditions it was high risk for me). I have gone another weekend with Prince Player not texting or calling. We were supposed to talk a few days before my procedure so we can decide when he can visit. Obviously, it wouldn’t be good for him to come while I am recovering. So no calls no texts.
Until the day before. Player says he is stressed, but wants to be here for me during this time. This is incredibly sweet and so unlike him. I love it…
On the afternoon of, he texts me right before. He reminds me I got this and says he wishes he could be there for me to take care of me. It’s really sweet.
When I get to Dr. Davis’s office, I sit in the procedure room. This is very different that the exam room. They play nice pop music and stuff and the lighting is different. I just need to get this over it, why is Dr. Davis taking so long?
After 12 minutes, Dr. Davis enters.
“Oh good. Let’s do this Dr. Davis. You’re gonna make this as painless as possible for me right?”
Dr. Davis looks me dead in the eye. “Let me get Nurse Karina for you so you can squeeze her hand”.
He leaves to grab her.
WHAT THE EF. THAT IS NOT A GOOD SIGN!!! Plus I cannot stand Nurse Karina!!!
Karina and Dr. Davis walk in. Ugh.
“Shaz. You know Nurse Karina. She is tough and you are tough so this will go good”
Jesus. Mary. And Joseph.
“K Karina. Let’s do this” I say holding out my hand. She smiles under her mask and holds my hand with both of her gloved hands.
“Cough Shaz” Dr. Davis says.
“Cough? Ok” I do a light cough. And I feel that piece of whatever it is pop right inside me!!!
“OH MY GOD” I say through clenched teeth and squeezing the hell out of Karina’s hand.
“Just breathe honey” Karina says.
I hold my stomach. I can’t feel the lower half of my body.
“You did great” Dr. Davis says smiling after the procedure. “Thank you Karina” he says.
Karina leaves. I get up slowly.
I look at him with tearful eyes.
“It will be ok Shaz. Hopefully this will help” Dr. Davis said.
“I am about to start throwing up right now” I say.
“Let me leave. I will be back in 5 minutes to check on you. I’ll send Karina too” Dr. Davis says.
I take off my mask and puke a little in the trashcan. Thank god I’m vaccinated. I wouldn’t have felt comfortable doing this if I wasn’t.
I lay back down on the procedure table. I text Prince Player.
He texts back right away. He is so sweet.
Karina walks in when I’m taking a drowsy selfie for Prince Player.
“Here is some water for you” she says smiling.
“Karina, listen that ain’t gonna help. I will throw up more. I don’t feel good” I say.
“Do you have a low pain tolerance?” she asks.
THIS PERSON. OMG. WHAT???
“I have more pain tolerance than the average woman. But I have Endo and PCOS that gives me a lot of pain” I say for the 100th time. She reminds me of the nurses in school who didn’t believe me when I was complaining of menstrual cramps.
She nods “Drink the water though”.
Ok yea whatever.
She leaves and I try my best to get up.
Oh my Jesus this hurts like hell. I clutch the exam room table and lean on it like I’m doing a plank standing.
Dr. Davis walks in.
“Good you’re standing” Dr. Davis says.
I stare at him with my mask dangling down the side of my ear. I prop it back on.
“Don’t you see what I just did?” I ask.
I point to my vomit.
He nods. “Feel better?”
He got me there. “A little bit…” I say. “Hey do you have drugs?”
“If you’d like I can give you some narcotics” he says.
“You should” I say.
“Ok but it would knock you out…” he says.
“Fine then don’t” I say.
Dr. Davis laughs. “You’ll be sore for just a bit. Take 3 ibuprofen every 6 hours” he says.
Oh lovely. My last dose was only 1.5 hours prior, so I have 5.5 hours to go.
“In the meantime walk around a bit, it may help” Dr. Davis says leaving.
Oh my Jesus. What is wrong with people.
I walk around a bit and drink the water Karina gave me.
I vomit 5 times. I walk to the nurse’s station.
“Karina can you get the doctor please?” I ask.
“He is doing a exam for another patient” I say.
“Ok please tell him I threw up 5 times” I say.
Karina looks in shock (she should have listened to me) and nods.
Dr. Davis walks back in.
“So how do you feel now?”
“I’ll admit I feel a teensy bit better after vomiting all that out. But I can’t feel the lower half of my body. It hurts so bad. I think I will call my Uber soon, I have to lay down”.
Dr. Davis nods. “Ok. I told you about your recovery. Now about sex. You may start having sex within 24 hours”.
I smirk. “Believe me. That will not be happening”
“Next week though maybe” Dr. Davis says.
I raise an eyebrow. Well then.
“You know how to reach me. Call me if anything happens. I need to see you soon to check that it’s in place and do an ultrasound. You can schedule that appointment when you’re feeling better” Dr. Davis says.
I nod. My Uber arrives.
I planned my outfit so well. I kept my dress on the entire time, and I didn’t put my leggings back on because the lower half of my body hurt too much. I had tall boots on too so I wasn’t too cold in the 30 degree Chicago weather that day.
The Uber ride is so uncomfortable with the tremendous pain. I want to puke again. I pray in my head to help me hold it until I get home. Somehow I make it through the 18 minutes. For once I am happy it is not a chatty driver. It is a driver going at good speed to get me home, not evening knowing my situation which I thank god for.
When I get home I realized I see I soaked my giant maxi pad. I feel like I just birthed a baby.
I throw up twice again.
I change into a new maxi pad and a nightie. Again the nightie will ensure my body is not crushed.
I just want to go to sleep but I’m hungry. I order what my parents used to get me when I had bad cramps and vomiting. Chicken McNuggets with honey, fries, and Apple juice. After eating that I feel so much better.
Thank goodness for Uber and Uber Eats honestly. If this was the olden days, I would have needed a lot of friends to support me through this time.
After eating I sleep. I feel crampy again when I wake up, and again have soaked my maxi pad. Good news is it is time to take my second dose of meds. I do so and sit down on a step stool for a while, sitting in that position makes me hurt less. Throughout the night and days in recovery I do it when I feel crampy. My friends who have had babies tell them I’m reminding them of postpartum.
Prince Player is amazing, checking on me through the night and next few days. I send him selfies and my progress, he tells me I’m cute and is just so supportive. He is finally there for me when I need him the most.
It’s hard when he vanishes. Or when he says he will call or text but doesn’t. But I try not to get anxious about it. I know anxiety will slow down my recovery time, and I know where my player sits in my heart. If I don’t have one in his, that is just a problem for another day.
Right now, I’m getting through my lady problems. It’s been about a week and a half since the procedure now and I’m feeling a lot better. I think as the doctor said, this will help a lot and I can catch a break real soon.
Dr. Davis’s question makes me remember Prince Player the rest of the week.
It’s hard. I’m so disappointed things didn’t work out.
On Friday, I do my usual Friday post work-quarantine routine. I watch Shark Tank 🙂 That Friday I had loads of laundry too.
In between late night laundry, I see my phone light up. I put everyone except my family on “do not disturb” through the period of my illness for extra rest and recovery so I think it’s one of them.
I nearly drop my phone when I see Prince Player’s name.
I put down my laundry basket and lay on my bed.
Prince Player says he is sorry and feels bad about the way things ended, and he hopes I’m doing well.
My jaw drops. This is it.
This is the moment I was hoping for.
Our reconciliation.
I told myself in Prince Player came back, I’d do everything I can to make it work. As last time, it felt like I was giving up.
I tell him my life hasn’t been the same since he left.
He admits the same.
We talk and Prince Player reminds me of memories from our weekend together. Some of those memories I forgot in the process of my healing.
While I like discussing the memories, I don’t understand why we are if Prince Player doesn’t like me.
That’s what he said when we broke up right? “Yea I don’t feel the same way”
Unless of course…he changed his mind.
It’s getting late. I tell him I’m happy he messaged and to let me know if his mind has changed about us.
He says he will.
We don’t really stop talking, it becomes clear he has and is on the same page as me.
Prince Player is faster in his communication now. Instead of saying he isn’t sure about his future with me, he says things like “we’ll figure things out babe”. I’m really hopeful it will actually work this time.
Except. On weekends.
On weekends it’s really hard to reach player for some reason…
“Oh Shazzzzz” my therapist Don says when I have told him the story of player coming back.
I snap out of my beautiful daydream and all the conversations I had in the last few days with player.
“WELL WHAT IS HE DOING ON WEEKENDS SHAZ?” Don asks. I don’t blame him. He’s hearing this for the third time now.
I laugh “He is resting. He is a hard working professional like me!” I say shrugging.
“So? You’re fucking Shaz. You should be more of a priority to him!” Don says.
“Well ouch…” I say.
You can always count on Don to give me a reality check. As much as I hate when he does that, I appreciate how he always thinks about the present and forward and not my past like other therapists have done.
“Shaz. You are in the busiest career right now. You are sick. You have maybe more trauma than him from what I know. And you make time for him and everyone else” Don says.
“I know. But he’s going through a lot. We don’t know what he’s going through” I say.
“Shaz. You’re doing it again” Don says.
“What? You’re the one that told me last time I need to be more empathetic to his situation! When I was waiting on him to get back to me after two days and I told you I don’t have time for this- you said I need to make time…”
“I think you misunderstood Shaz. At that time, it seemed like he was making an effort to really be with you and change. But the story he told you when he saw you, plus now him leaving and coming back after 3 months…now that’s just shady. Where has he been these last 3 months Shaz?” Don asks.
My eyes well up. I just know player. He needs space sometimes. He really is better now. I just know it.
“Shaz I didn’t mean to rain on your parade. I just saw you happy last time, after he said all these nice things. And then he left. And you were really sad. And now he’s back. Saying nice things again. What tells us the same thing won’t happen again?”
“He’s better now. He sounds like it…” I say.
“I don’t know Shaz. You are very ambitious, caring, and reliable” Don says. He goes on to say that player doesn’t sound like any of those things and it’s going in one of my ears and out the other. He can’t convince me.
“That is the love of my life you are talking about. And he is all of those things. Or at least he is doing his best to be” I tell Don.
Don stares at me. “Well Shaz. I don’t know him. And I’m not you so I can’t personally feel your feelings about him and stuff. But if you feel strongly about him, then continue- but with caution”.
Oh my god I am so mad at Don. Why would he say that about player.
After my IUD procedure (which I’ll discuss in the next post) I get a lot of pain. The pain triggers my long gone anxiety up again.
And when player vanishes on weekends…it triggers a lot of flashbacks. Flashbacks of player in college when he said he was coming over, but didn’t. Flashback of player in Boston, who came to see me but didn’t want to be intimate or spend much time with me when he did. Flashbacks of all the pain, trauma, and grief I faced since knowing player. And how he wasn’t really there those times.
My head spins.
I lay down and shut my eyes.
He is here now, more than ever before. And that is what matters.
“Look on the bright side Shaz. It’s now a year since we’ve been on the frontlines of a major pandemic!” Maria says.
I smile. “Yea. That is awesome for sure. I’m so proud of us girl”
She laughs. “Shaz…I’ve been meaning to ask you something… are you sick again?”
I face her. “Why do you ask that?”
“You look a little pale. Your hand is cold. You keep holding your back…”
“Yep” I say.
“Oh no. How long with the bleeding now?”
“Like…3 weeks” I say.
“Jesus!”
“I know. What bothered me is this lower back pain. I never really had it before” I say.
“Oh my god! Remember that’s what Kim had and it turned out she was pregnant?” she asks referring to our other coworker.
I laugh and massage my back. “Yea but it’s not that. I took a test and it was negative”
Maria shakes her head. “All your scares Shaz. It’s always right after these boys take off”
“I know right. PCOS sucks. I can’t tell if I’m having a period, spotting, withdrawal bleeding, a cramp, or whatever so I never know what’s going on”.
Maria sighs. “Have you told your OB?”
I nod. “I got an appointment with him later this week.”
“I’ll pray for you my friend. Everything will be okay” she says squeezing my hand.
We get back to work.
The next few days I am tired. I hope the doctor can figure out what’s going on. This is just too much to handle.
The day finally comes and my favorite nurse is on duty. She does my ultrasound and says everything looks as it usually does, nothing new. So that maybe we should do a different one, one that will look more closely at my “lady problems” as Prince Player calls them. But that she has to consult with the doctor first.
A few minutes she and the doctor comes in.
“What is happening Shaz?” the doctor asks.
“You tell me” I say.
“Well. We’re gonna do this other ultrasound that will take a closer look. Fair warning it’s a little uncomfortable. You may feel lightheaded. Cramping. And may bleed a little more. Stephanie, get her a pad just in case please” he says motioning to the nurse.
My jaw drops. He nods. “It’s just another precaution we have to take. We need to rule out things so we can figure out what’s happening.”
I sigh “Alright” I say. Dr. Davis has been amazing. Never in a million years would I imagined I’d agree to a male OB, but after my cyst ruptured and he took good care of me- he is the only one I will see!
“So how is everything?” Dr. Davis asks as he prepares.
“Fine” I say shrugging.
“Yea, you still with the partner?” my eyes widen.
Oh my god he is asking about Prince Player. I keep forgetting about Prince Player not because I don’t miss him but this is just how I cope with heartache. So it takes me a moment to remember who he is talking about.
“Um no” I say.
“Yea I remember he was a new partner. Or rather you hadn’t seen him in a few years, and then you did?”
Oh my goddd.
“Yea. We’re not together anymore” I say.
Dr. Davis nods. He doesn’t squeeze answers out of me and that I like.
And then the ultrasound begins. Good grief. I am positive this is what labor feels like.
I have tears rolling down my cheeks.
“A little cramping, almost done Shaz”
Omgggg.
“And done. Stephanie let her get dressed and send her to the consultation room please” Dr. Davis says.
I get up from the exam table. “Umm..”
“Are you ok? Dizzy?” Stephanie asks.
“Yea..” I say.
“Ok sit for a moment. Take it slowly once I go. Yell if you need something, I’ll be waiting outside.”
I nod.
When I’m dressed Nurse Stephanie takes me into Dr. Davis’s office which is not an exam room. I’ve never been in one of these.
“What’s happening? Am I dieing?” I ask.
Dr. Davis laughs. “No, have a seat” he says gesturing to one of the two chairs in front of him.
“Well what is it? Am I pregnant?” I ask. Dr. Davis knows as much as I would love to have a baby, I don’t want one right now. Especially after the way “Prince Player” ended things.
Dr. Davis laughs again, “No. There was no baby in the ultrasound”.
I sigh. “Phew that is really good”.
Dr. Davis nods. “I wanted to talk to you because that second ultrasound was normal. There were no polyps or anything that indicated anything beyond what you’ve had all these years which is PCOS. So now the question is. How do we stop this bleeding”
“Yep” I say.
“At this point we have explored almost every oral contraceptive out there. It doesn’t seem like your body is responding to those well. Even the last one we put you one, worked for a solid 9 months- and then just stopped”.
I nod.
“So it is time we consider the alternatives I’ve told you about Shaz” Dr. Davis says.
“Oh my god no not the IUD” I say.
“That is one. We could also put you on the shot. But the shot you have to come in every 3 months, and you will experience breakthrough bleeding for the first couple of months. At this point- we aren’t comfortable putting you on that with the amount of blood you are already losing”.
I nod. “With the IUD, wouldn’t I get a period every single month?” With the pills I’ve been on the last few years, I only got a period once every season.
Dr. Davis nods. “Yes but they will subside after some time. Plus as it stands right now. You are actually bleeding more days than you are not”.
“That’s very true” I say.
“It’s not a decision you need to make today Shaz. You are also welcome to just stop taking the pills you are on now and see if things naturally get better. But it would mean you are not protected…”
I hug my purse. “Oh yea we don’t need to worry about that. I won’t be having sex any time soon” I say remembering my poor heart and Prince Player.
Dr. Davis looks at me “But, I know long term- you might want to be”.
I shut my eyes. He is a good doctor.
I nod. “Let’s do the IUD. If I stop the pill I’ll get horrible cramps and heavy bleeding, that’s what happened in the past. If I stay on it nothing will change and I’ll keep getting these prolonged bleeds. The shot we ruled out. You’ve been telling me about the IUD for a year now so let’s go with that. It’s worked for patients you treated with my condition right?”
Dr. Davis nods “Yes it absolutely has. But remember, not every body is the same. We won’t know what happens until we try. I wish I had a solid answer for you.
I nod. “How bad will this hurt?”
“It’ll be similar to the ultrasound we just did. But, you’re tough” Dr. Davis says.
Yes thank you 17 years of horrible menstrual cramps.
I laugh, “Ok but that pain I just had in there was awful!”
Dr. Davis nods. “If you’d like Shaz, we can pre-medicate you”
I nod fast, “Yes, do that”
Dr. Davis laughs and makes notes. “Ok, got it”.
“Recovery time?”
Dr. Davis shrugs. “Some women are able to drive back to work and go about their normal duties. Some woman need recovery time for a day or a couple of days due to cramping”.
My jaw drops. “Ok soooo. That’s gonna be me! Which means I need to come here on one of the two days I’m allowed to work remote. But you are only here once a week on alternating days, so that may be hard….”
Dr. Davis smiles and nods “Let’s look at my schedule. We could always try another provider”
I shake my head, “I only trust you”.
Dr. Davis laughs, “Ok. You have clinic every other day right, leaving the day after each available? I think I have an opening a week and a half from now”.
It works with my schedule and we confirm.
I drive home still in pain. When I come for the procedure in a week and a half, I’m definitely going to Uber.
I take the rest of the day easy.
I think about Prince Player.
I remember him so well when people bring him up. I wish we could be together. I wish I knew what he was up to. Haven’t heard from him in three months.
“How are you? Really?” my friend and good coworker Maria asks.
We are both vaccinated now so now we can resume our coffee breaks in my car. Too bad I’m not wearing my mask, it’s hard to lie.
“I am so sad” I whisper.
She nods.
“I am really sad”.
She nods again.
“What happened?” she whispers.
“Why are you whispering? No one else is here!” I say laughing.
“Sorry! You were whispering so I thought I should too!”
I nod.
“So… what happened?” she now asks in a normal tone.
I look down. I folded my hands. “I don’t know” I say.
“Whatever it is trust God” she says as she has been saying the last two years when it came to my family, relationships, and job.
“But why would God keep throwing Prince Player into my life only for him to leave every time he does? Hmm? This is like…almost a decade now!”
She sips her coffee, “Maybe he’s meant to stay. Eventually…”
“I don’t know, I told him it was my last hurrah with him” I say.
She raises an eyebrow. “Did ya really mean that?”
I suck in my cheeks. “No…”
“Then why’d you say it?”
“Because he does this every time. He comes in, swoops me up, loves me harder than before- only to leave me the next week” I say.
“It sounds like each time he does come back, he is better though right?”
“Yea… but I don’t know if he’s coming back this time. He said he doesn’t want to communicate with me anymore” I say.
Maria laughs. “Shaz. You and I know that’s a lie. He just feels bad because deep down he knows he really does love you, but something is preventing him from going through with it”.
I nod. “Yea I know”.
“Give him some time. If it’s meant to be he’ll come back. If not, there will be better Shaz. I promise!”
I stay silent.
Maria holds my arm, “See I’d normally tell you to go find someone else after he’s dragged your heart like this. But it’s written all over your face and heart how you feel about this one”.
I nod.
“What do you love about him so much Shaz? You didn’t really tell me much about that like you did with your ex” Maria says.
I look up. “Well for starters, he’s really cute. Just like me. He admitted our babies would be super good looking!”
Maria nearly spits out her coffee. She laughs. “Oh my god Shaz. What else?”
I laugh too. “Ok ok I’m kidding! Well he is, but beyond that… We just. Go well together. It’s like, I can tell what he’s thinking when I’m in his presence. Even when we are far I can too. And he can read me pretty well too. He always listens to me and takes my side on everything. Like I don’t know anyone who is more “Team Shaz” than he is. In college whenever I was nervous about a class or something, he’d always encourage me and tell me I’d do great. And he’d be the first to congratulate me. And every time I look at him, I don’t see 26 year old Prince Player- I see 17 year old Prince Player. Like I remember the first time I saw him. And our first time alone together. He was walking me home on one of those crisp fall Chicago days. I do not have an ex in the world I have gone back to this many times. “Heart” I did a few times but not as much as this. My last one I went back to just once and that was enough. And this one. Oh my god he’s just a part of me. And our weekend together three months ago, just reiterated all of this. I will never understand why he left”.
Omg. One crazy 11 hour shift later, I fall in the parking lot of the clinic. Chicago had one heck of a snowstorm over the weekend and it left a lot of ice everywhere. I hold my knee, god that is painful.
And finally, I can cry. I can cry about that thing that happened with Prince Player.
For two months I’ve been trying to get it out of my system. “Feeling is healing” I kept telling myself over and over again. But it appeared my heart was too numb with all the damage done to feel anything.
I get in my car as best as I could. I’ll assess the damage when I get home.
I think about the last 8 weeks. Just that morning, I made my cup of coffee and sat down. I was running late for work but I knew it was going to be a long day and wanted some peace before I went in.
“Seriously? After all that?? Why would he even fly all the way here? To use you?” my mentor asked when I told him the news 8 weeks ago.
I think about that. I think of all the people I had to tell that it didn’t work out. I think of how my 8 years worth of trying was a waste. I think of how I jinxed it. I literally told the few people I told I didn’t say anything at first because I didn’t want to jinx it.
When I get home I prop my leg up on a pillow and put some frozen peas on my knee. My knee is swollen but it will be fine. We will see about my heart.
I stare at the ceiling. After 8 weeks of feeling nothing about this situation, I’m suddenly… mad. Usually I feel sad after breakups so this is weird. But I’m mad. I’m mad at player. How could he pretend like I don’t exist, after breaking my heart for the 100th time. Am I not a human being? It’s like we are strangers…
Did he ever even like me. Or did he just feel sorry for me.
My eyes widen. I shut it.
He did. He liked me. Even if it was just for 6 weeks, he did.
What a shame.
I turn off the lights. I know it’s for the best. After 8 years of the same thing, I shouldn’t have expected anything better this time around.
I’m a good person. I accepted him as he is. Forgave him. Loved him. And prayed for him even when he wasn’t mine. I did my best.
I remember what he said the first time he broke my heart 8 years ago. “Some day, you’ll make a guy very happy”.
Yes I will.
The next morning I get up, my knee is feeling better- and so is my heart. Feeling really is healing ain’t it.
Loving Prince Player is like, trying to catch the rain. What am I supposed to do if nothing, not even I can make him happy.
“How’s it going with him?” I am rushing to a patient room but my associate Daniel believes in “walking and talking”.
“Oh. It’s over Daniel. I know it” I say flipping through my clipboard studying the patient’s chart.
Daniel walks faster to match my speed, “What? Come on Shaz. Breathe. No it isn’t!”
I turn the knob on my patient’s door and look at him “Oh yes it is. He’s calling me tonight to confirm it!”
Daniel sighs and shakes his head. “Call me if you need something”. I nod.
When I’m done with that patient I reach into my dress’s pocket for my travel size Bath & Body works lotion that makes me happy. I come up empty handed. What the heck happened to my lotion. I swear I-
Oh. I suddenly remember. I gave it to Prince Player when he left. To remember me 😦
I see my patients and do my job but I am so tired. I take a hot shower after I get home and text player asking if he’s feeling better.
He doesn’t text back, so a few hours later I’m about to FaceTime my other friend Sam when- player calls me. I text Sam, “hang on, I’m about to get dumped”. “Omg Shaz, are you sure you wanna chat tonight?” he messages back. I sigh.
I answer my phone. “Hey player” ugh I don’t sound happy I sound pissed. I don’t need to be, but I’m just feeling drained. With work, my own issues, and what player is about to do.
“Hey Shaz! How are you?” wow he sounds much happier the day before.
“Good” I say lieing.
“Good. Ok. I’m just gonna cut to the chase” he says.
Oh please. Please just do it. Rip off the bandaid.
“I don’t want this anymore” he says.
I roll my eyes all the way to the ceiling. No really?
He continues, “I know you didn’t want us to break up this way, and I wish I could do it in person. I really wanted to give this a try and make it work. But it’s not going to. I was optimistic about this working out, despite us being long distance. But I am not anymore, I see it as a challenge. I value being close physically with someone”
Yea who fucking doesn’t.
He continues again, “I know we discussed this and we talked about how in the future we can be in the same location, but it’s just not something I can think about right now. I should have known this would be a problem, but I really liked you and wanted to try”
I swallow.
He isn’t finished. Omg please finish I can’t bear to listen anymore. “We had something intense, and I appreciated it at the time. But I didn’t think about the logistics of all of this. It’s clear to me now that yea I wasn’t communicative with you when I got back here. But it was because of all this. I don’t know Shaz, um I’m willing to hear what you think.”
Jesus. Mary and Joseph. Finally. My turn
“Yea I mean it’s fine. I just want you to be happy” the words just flow out of my mouth, as if my heart was the one that was talking.
What the absolute hell Shaz. Really? Sometimes I amuse myself. He had this whole monologue, and I just said I wanted him to be happy.
Sigh.
“I want you to be happy too. Although I know this is probably not making you happy” he responds.
Yea no kidding.
“Shaz. I was so optimistic when we were talking and I saw you. But that feeling is gone now. I really appreciate everything you did for me. Thanks for hosting me, I had a good time. It’s really not easy to end things with someone that you went through so much with. And especially that weekend, we discussed some real shit and learned a lot of new things about each other. And yea it’s not easy but, I have to stop letting my emotions take control of me like I usually do- and think”
I stay silent.
“But yea I’m willing to talk more about this or stay on the line if you want to discuss this some more” he says.
Oh my god why is he still speaking.
“No it’s fine. I understand” I say.
Again I amuse myself.
“Thank you for understanding, I think it’s best if we don’t communicate anymore” he responds.
What the fuck is that all about. We are ex lovers ending on good terms not enemies.
“Uh. Well we don’t have to stop completely we can still support each other from afar and wish each other well” I say.
“Yea I wanna see you be successful, which you already are” he says.
Just. Be quiet.
And then he says bye.
And then I say bye. And he hangs up first. As usual.
I hold my phone to my chest.
I look at the calendar. Well that’s not really how I wanted to start the new year of my life.
But.
Something weird happens. Every time I want to be sad or upset about player over the last month- my heart and mind just stop me. And remind me each time, that I just want him to be happy. Even if it’s without me.
I’m glad we tried and that we did everything we could. For some reason, God wanted him in my life for 8 years. And maybe, that isn’t his place anymore- but he’ll forever be in my heart.
“I’d just be…prepared. That’s when individuals with what Player is struggling with do it. Birthdays, Christmas, other major holidays” Don says.
I look at the Zoom screen. Therapist Don has been a big help to me over the past year.
I shrug. “He did break up with me on Valentine’s Day in college”.
Don’s jaw drops. I nod.
I see a call coming in. “Omg that’s him now!” I think quickly. I put my phone to the side.
“Let’s finish the session. We only have a few more minutes, I’ll call him back right after” I say.
“You’re doing the right thing Shaz. Supporting him and loving him. It’s all you can do right now.”
I nod. “Believe me, I am! I told player I would FREEZE TIME for him! I would do anything to make him feel better. Whenever I’m working and he texts- I text him right back! I put everyone on hold and prioritize him. I treat him as I do my mom, dad, or brother.”
Don laughs. “Oh Shaz. You are just. So loving. I gotta tell you, I was able to find love being my weird self so if I was able to- you can to. Even if it isn’t him. Because someone is worthy of your love”.
I frown.
“But hey, we aren’t there yet” Don says.
It had been a week and a half since I last saw player. We weren’t talking much, despite my efforts to reach out to him.
One of the days, player and I didn’t talk at all. That day, my ex reached out. Unreal.
“Are you seeing someone?” he asks.
“Why? Where’s your new girlfriend?” I ask.
“She is very toxic I broke up with her” he says.
I laugh.
“I wanted to see you. Maybe watch a movie or something” he says.
“Yea fuck you. I am seeing someone. And he is way better than you” I say.
“Ouch” he says. “I’m happy for you Shaz” he says.
I smile. I always waited for this day. Where karma would slap him in the face.
“So, who’s the guy? The lucky one” he asks.
I smile. I tell him a little bit about player and say my goodnight. I try player one more time before my eyes shut, no luck. Damn I’m really getting worried.
When I reach him a few days later, he tells me his moods are all over the place. He can’t explain it.
I feel it myself. The entire week after player left sucked. But I just knew it would be the reality of being long distance, at the same time our love was so strong I thought it could survive it.
Player had even said the day before, “I wanna see you again. Soon”.
God what changed.
When I hang up the call with my therapist, I call player back.
“Hello” he says.
“Hey player. I’m so sorry, I was talking to my therapist when you called” I say in my perkiest voice even though I’m exhausted.
“Oh..it’s fine. How are you?” he asks in a very off tone.
“I’m good! How are you?” I ask, again trying to sound as happy as possible and not nervous for what may come.
“Not good. I feel like nothing makes me happy” player says.
I ask player if he tried talking to someone or trying medicine again.
“Yea medications come with side effects” he says coldly.
My eyes widen on the other side of the line. Yea not like I never took medication for my mental health or anything. What the hell would I know right?
Breathe Shaz, I tell myself. He needs you right now.
I stay quiet. “Anyways, I don’t wanna talk about myself anymore. What’s going on with you?” his tone again is so cold it is almost making my mood-
Again. I remember where he is coming from. I bring my perky voice back.
I tell him about how I’m very busy with distributing vaccination and I’m gonna get mine soon too. He doesn’t say anything. Maybe I’ll try something interactive. Make him feel better.
“…also I’ve been thinking about you a lot. Like when I sit at my dining table I’ll look across and remember you there-” I say laughing trying to sound as happy as possible.
“Yea I don’t feel the same way” he says interrupting.
I think my heart literally skipped a beat.
If player could see my face right now.
Feels like someone punched me. In my nose. I don’t know how else to describe it.
I feel like I’m gonna vomit. “Uh. You know what player, why don’t you call me tomorrow? Doesn’t sound like you really want to talk tonight” I say.
Suddenly his tone lightens, but it’s a little too late. “Yea, sorry to open this can of worms on you…”
I feel myself going white. “Uh, yea. It’s fine. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Bye” I say.
Somehow he hangs up first.
I throw my phone on my bed and go to the bathroom. I splash cold water on my face.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
When player said he thought about what our kids would look like, I imagined about my white dress. If it would be one of those mermaid ones or a ball gown- my two favorite styles. Would flatter my shape I thought. One that player loved.
When player and I were walking around shopping holding hands, I imagined doing it with him for the rest of my life.
When I fell asleep in players arms without evening knowing, I imagined how he’d always be able to hold me and take the pain away when I’m sad.
Monday morning my alarm goes off bright and early.
I shut it off. I turn over. I remember player staring back at me the morning before.
I shut my eyes. “Damn it”.
This was not going to be an easy day for me.
I have no appetite, I don’t even drink my morning coffee.
I put on a comfy sweater and dress pant leggings and drive to work. I love my job, but that day- I was not looking forward to it.
When I ‘m on the road “Happy Anywhere” plays.
“Fuck no”. I shut it off.
I drive quietly. When I get to the office, it is quiet.
I sit at my desk quietly and try to work on some projects before my next patient. My boss walks in.
“Hello! How was your weekend??”
“Fine..” I say. Thank goodness we are wearing masks because my smile is so fake.
“What’d you do?” she asks.
Oh god. Gee I don’t know. My lover of 8 years flew from LA and we spent the weekend together?
“Nothing really” I say almost choking on my own words.
“Awww. Well. I hiked and I saw my friends and I….” she is speaking but I am really not listening.
She goes back to her office and I sigh.
I get a call transferred from our receptionist. “It’s Daniel for you” she says. I sigh, it’s my associate.
“Put him through”
“HOW DID IT GO THIS WEEKEND?” he asks.
I have a gulp in my throat. “It was alright” I say.
“Oh no. I don’t like the sound of that” Daniel says.
“I’ll tell you eventually” I say.
“Ok.. Hang in there” Daniel says and goes into giving me updates for our clinic.
When we get off the phone I go to the private staff restroom.
I crack open a window.
Hold my head in my hands.
Here we go. The tears. I knew they would finally come out when I didn’t want them too.
I miss player so much. I wish our relationship wasn’t so complicated, although I know all relationships are in their own ways. I want player in my presence again.
I wipe the tears away, and go get coffee. I am still not hungry but I know I will faint during my 11 hour shift if I don’t drink or eat anything.
The coffee warms my soul and I somehow make it through the day.
Player and I catch up later and player says he was sad too.
Even though he isn’t next to me, I still feel his presence. Somehow. It’s strange.
As days go by, I feel his mood shifting. Sometimes he misses me, sometimes he doesn’t.
God I hope what I thought we were both feeling wasn’t my imagination 😦
For The Love Of Sass 