Why Would a Man Cry ...

About a Woman He's Breaking up With?

Why Would a Man Cry ...

Flash Fiction, by C.J. Heck

Meet Richard, a good friend from our group. Years ago, he broke up with a woman he had been seeing for ten years. We were all surprised. As he was telling the group about it, tears were rolling down his cheeks. Now we were doubly surprised.

Richard left soon after sharing his news and I remember a couple of friends in the group were convinced the tears meant he had changed his mind. That had to be it. Why else would he be crying?

If he really, really broke up with her, she must have done something unforgivable. But in that case, wouldn’t he be feeling glad he was washing his hands of the problem —-maybe even angry for wasting ten years of his time? What did the crying mean?

I didn’t find it hard to understand. Richard was crying because he had a heart and it was showing.

He was crying for the good they once shared, and all the feelings that first brought them together. He realized nothing is ever all bad. The good they had was good.

He was crying because he put a lot of himself into building a life with her. When all the hopes and dreams get dashed, and all he’s left with are memories, the sadness can be overwhelming, even for a guy.

All the good they once shared was behind him. No matter the reason, no matter what brought him to the point of breaking up with her, he came to the realization they will have no future together.

I don’t care who you are, that’s sad … but something even sadder was when Richard shot himself the next morning with no further explanation.

Today is the 10-year anniversary of that day and … that’s sad.

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