Is it okay if I cheat?

Stephenson
Aug 31, 2018 · 3 min read

It was their usual meeting, Thursday night, sports bar, sports talk. Only this time there was something bothering Joe.

“I don’t know what to do, Ed. Is it wrong?”

“Do you think she’s gonna find out?” — Ed said, disregarding Joe’s question.

“Man, I never cheated on my girlfriend before, she’s amazing. But there’s something about this girl that is making me crazy. It’s nothing special. I’m also feeling a little neglected … in the love department, if you know what I mean.”

“There are a lot of people who cheat, men and women, what’s wrong with it?”

Joe was starting to realize Ed might have a point. Maybe he could excuse his moral compass by grouping himself with the cheaters.

“Nobody ever died because of an affair … most of the time. Also, my girlfriend is not gonna find out, it’s gonna be only a one-time thing. For all I know it’s her fault, she’s the one that is ‘too busy.’”

“You know, there are people that has a different approach to this. In their minds they only have to be loyal if they’re married. They have a girlfriend/boyfriend, but they’re don’t feel stuck to them. They tell themselves ‘When I get married I’ll settle down.’”

“But aren’t those the same ones that cheat on marriage?” — Joe became more interested in the conversation. It was intriguing and he hoped for clarification.

“Yeah, but one can only be as strong as his beliefs. If you don’t think that’s the way it is, then you’re gonna end up cheating on marriage too.”

“Why don’t we have these talks every thursday? Why does it have to be always football?” — Joe urged, excited with the depths the conversation was reaching.

“I don’t know. Football is easy, it’s fun. We don’t have to find a solution, and we have the same opinion on almost every issue we bring up.”

“I can’t disagree with that.” — Both smiled and sipped their beers.

“But why don’t you tell me what do you think is right or wrong?” — Ed said, trying to make Joe think about his situation.

Joe stared for a minute at the football-shaped coaster in his hand.

“God! Life is confusing! Maybe I’m loyal afterall. I can’t see myself hurting Claire in any way. I wish she was more caring. I guess this is my problem too.”

“You just have a good heart. You don’t want to face the morality of the situation, you prefer to look at it from an empathic point of view.” — Ed said, proud of his words.

Joe, surprised with Ed’s remarks, immersed himself in consideration while he ordered two more beers.

“What would you do?”

Ed haven’t thought about it, he thought he got lucky with his wife, and no other woman would want him, so he was loyal for lack of opportunities. He wasn’t sociable also, so the opportunities were even dimmer.

He laughed, making Joe laugh in return. They both silently agreed Ed was lucky and boring, but he had his moments.

“I’m not gonna give you my opinion, instead I’m gonna ask you. What do you want?”

Unsure of what to say, Joe thought for a moment, absorbed. His beer warming up. His eyes were static, he was looking straight inside himself to see what he could find.

Ed waked him from his ruminations. — “Perhaps I should ask differently. What do you value? What gives you that sense of fulfillment in your relationships?”

“What’s up with you today, man?” — Joe asked with a hint of mockery. — “But I guess you’re right. I really love Claire. It’s not that I don’t want to hurt her. I want to share a life with her, you know? I better talk with her about this attention problem, it’s better than bottle up this resentment towards her and try to solve my own problems by looking for a quick fix.”

“There you go. Now, let’s talk business. What about that new wide receiver for the Giants?”

Stephenson

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Trying to be a better person so I can inspire the world around me by example.