The Patrick Chronicles-- The Goodbye

Expectations can hurt one's heart. Reading into actions or assuming something will happen and then it does not occur only leaves you feeling down.

Emma had just left class and was heading up to Patrick's room to tell him goodbye. Today was the beginning of Thanksgiving break and although he was excited she was not. As soon as he appeared she knew she was not on his mind. Feeling a little disappointed but beginning to think more logically she greeted him warmly.

"Hi Patrick!" she said. "How are you doing?" Patrick responded in a friendly tone. After exchanging the usual polite answers and once again commenting on the beautiful weather there is a pause in the conversation as neither one knows what to say. The feeling is mildly awkward and uncomfortable, yet bearable.

"Have you forgotten anything?" She asks, not caring if he answered for she was just trying to break the silence. "Well, not that I can remember, but hold on and let me get my forgotten list out of my pocket," he replies jokingly. She smiles. The silence slowly returning Patrick quickly breaks it saying "Well, I must go, but I will see you in a week Emma." He gives her a friendly side hug. She silently utters "no", but replies "I'll see you in a week. Goodbye Patrick!"

As she turns and walks slowly away the disappointment creeps quickly into her heart. "From now on I shall go about this relationship in a logical manner.” She tells herself. "I'm tired of becoming disappointed because I have been silly and have taken his acts of kindness to mean something more." Emma slowly grasps the door handle of Elizabeth's dormitory and with a final thought tells herself, "No more expectations, only logical thinking from now on."