The Fighter

Story Submitted by Avi:

Portia had offered to take me out to dinner for our six-month anniversary. She was a bit of a firebrand, but we liked spending time together, and our good times were good.

One detail: I have a younger brother, David, who had taken some time off from college in order to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He had put the time to good use, volunteering at various charities. I was (and still am) proud of him. At the time, my folks were mortified at the idea of him quitting school.

Portia and I were on a walk before dinner when she asked me, "How's your mother doing?"

I said, "She's okay. We got into a fight over what David's doing with his life."

Portia groaned and strode ahead a bit faster. She muttered, "Again with the fucking fighting. Why are you always fighting with people?"

This was an out-of-the-blue statement. I couldn't recall a single other example of me fighting with anyone else, and I told her so. "Can you name a single other time that I've fought with someone?"

She said, "That's stupid. I'm not playing that game."

I said, "Why not? You made a statement. Back it up. Name one other time I've 'fought with people,' as you put it."

She said, "Too many times to count!"

I replied, "Then this should be easy for you. Name one."

She turned to me and yelled, "What do you call this? This is a fight!"

I said, "That you started based on an erroneous claim. Now back up your statement or we're through."

She said, "You don't mean that."

I said, "You started the fight, now finish it. Name one other time."

She said, "You're insane. I can't even understand what you're saying."

I said, "You were the one who said that I'm always fighting with people, and you can't even back it up."

She shouted, "Have you even been listening to me? I've given you dozens of examples!"

Portia was clearly nuts. Shame that it took me six months to see it. I took a deep breath, stepped back, and said, "I'll send you your things," then turned away.

She grabbed me and said, "What are you doing? You can't break up with me!"

I pulled away and said, "This isn't going to work. I—"

Portia screamed her throat out, and I ran off. She might have given chase, but I didn't stop to look. After several minutes, I finally did stop. She wasn't anywhere in sight. I went home, put all of her stuff in a box, and dropped it it off on her porch the next day.