WILLIAM YOUNGBLOOD is an Associate Editor here at insolent rudder. A published author and poet, he is currently working on his first novel entitled, Daze End.

                                                        nothing personal


"I’m leaving you."

"What?"

"I’m leaving you."

"Leaving? You’re leaving?"

"Yes. That’s what I said."

"I don’t understand. Why are you leaving me?"

"It’s nothing personal, really. I just feel the need to grow."

"Grow?"

"Yes, grow."

"Are you saying that I’m not allowing you to grow? Please explain this to me."

"You suffocate me. You’re too needy. You don’t seem to understand me or my needs."

"There’s someone else, isn’t there?"

"No, not really."

"Not really?"

"Well, yes. But he just takes care of my physical needs better than you. That’s all."

"That’s all? Christ!"

"You’re upset. You shouldn’t be, you know. It’s nothing personal."

"Yeah, so you keep telling me."

"You’re too emotional."

"Is there anything I do right?"

"There’s plenty that you do right, and I’m sure that you’ll make someone very happy."

"But not you."

"No. Not me."

"Christ."

"Look, it’s—"

"Nothing personal. I think I’ve got that part, thank you."

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Copyright © 2002 William Youngblood