Don't you suppose I know that you've lain in my arms and pretended I was Ashley Wilkes? Pleasant thing, that. Rather ghostly, in fact. Like having three in a bed where there ought to be just two." Oh, yes, you've been faithful to me because Ashley wouldn't have you. But, hell, I wouldn't have grudged him your body. I know how little bodies mean — especially women's bodies. But I do grudge him your heart and your dear, hard, unscrupulous, stubborn mind. He doesn't want your mind, the fool, and I don't want your body. I can buy women cheap. But I do want your mind and your heart, and I'll never have them, any more than you'll ever have Ashley's mind. And that's why I'm sorry for you.
Shakespeare said, "Journeys end in lovers meeting." Oh, what an extraordinary thought. Personally, I have not experienced anything remotely close to that, but I'm more than willing to believe Shakespeare had. I suppose I think about love more than anyone really should. I'm constantly amazed by its sheer power to alter and define our lives. It was Shakespeare who also said, "Love is blind." Now, that is something I know to be true. For some, quite inexplicably, love fades. For others, love is simply lost. But then, of course, love can also be found. Even if just for the night. And then there's another kind of love. The cruelest kind. The one that almost kills its victims. It's called unrequited love. Of that, I am an expert. Most love stories are about people who fall in love with each other. But what about the rest of us? What about our stories? Those of us who fall in love alone. We are the victims of the one-sided affair. We are the cursed of the loved ones. We are the unloved ones. The walking wounded. The handicapped without the advantage of a great parking space.
— So he stays in touch?
— All the time.
— So that makes it impossible to forget him, which is great for him, but sucks for you.
— I made a decision when it comes to Emma. I'm gonna back off.
— Back off?
— For the sake of the boy. Let his parents have a fair shot. Without a devilishly handsome pirate standing in the way.
— You serious?
— Yeah. I am devilishly handsome.
— Thanks, man.
— Oh, don't thank me yet. You see, I'm in this for the long haul. You've already walked out on Emma once. I'm not so sure she'll let you back in. Are you?
Unrequited love is that which has a lot of wormwood and a little vanilla.
— What's goin' on in your head?
— I don't know.
— That's like kissing someone who's drunk.
— It's over. This twisted, toxic thing between us is finally finished! I'm miraculously done being in love with you. Ha! I've got a life to start living. And you're not going to be in it.
— Darling...
— Now I've got somewhere really important to be and you have got to get the hell out. Now!
— What exactly has got into you?
— I don't know. But I think what I've got is something slightly resembling gumption.
How long does it take to get someone you're stuck on out of your system? If only they'd invent some kind of pump for that.
Couldn't make you see it
That I loved you more than you'll ever know
A part of me died when I let you go.