Gossip

I’m not perfect. But I do (usually, hopefully) learn from my mistakes.

I got dumped. He called and asked me to go over to his place so he could do it and not expend any extra energy in the process.

Classy.

I had been praying about the relationship and wondering if it should continue.

God’s solution: dumped. Not the nicest way to answer, but it at least it was clear.

A couple months later, a friend of mine was filling me in on the latest in the guy’s life. We were washing vegetables at In-N-Out before the store opened for the day, slicing tomatoes and ripping up lettuce as we looked out the window over the drive-through.

“He got a girl pregnant,” she said.

No way! <Shock. Un-shock. And not as surprised as I should have been.>

She told me about the girl, and about how upset the girl’s parents were.

“And she’s married.”

What!? <Shock.> Seriously? It was a crazy soap opera story, and I couldn’t believe it was reality.

A new co-worker walked up behind us as we were talking. He had just started a couple days before. “Do you know who you’re talking about?” he asked.

My ex-boyfriend.

“And my wife.”

No breath. <Speechless.>

Yeah.
That happened.

Wow, I blubbered
          stammered
          barely got out.
I’m sorry.
Sorry, oh my gosh, sorry, and – of course – we had no idea.

He was clearly hurt. I had been so wrapped up in one side of the story that I completely ignored that there was someone – anyone – else involved.

I had completely ignored that it was all gossip. Because it involved me, right?

Nope.

I was no longer in the picture. I was no longer involved. It wasn’t my business anymore.

I learned my lesson.
I think.
I hope.

Because I never want to put myself or someone else in that situation again.