The End of a Relationship

The "Magic Moment" carried on throughout the rest of senior year and the summer.  Bev and I had joint and personal activities during the summer, but a breakup was just around the corner.

I felt uneasy when Bev talked about getting motorcycle rides home from her AAE volunteer work assignment at the Kearny Workshop, but I shrugged it off until receiving a call from her when returning home from the annual boy scout summer camp.  There was no "welcome home".  It had the feel of a "Dear John letter".  Was asked to meet at the steps of one of the buildings at SF State College on the first day of class.

I had a sinking feeling when we met. We exchanged pleasantries initially, but it was followed up with the words "I'm seeing someone else" from Bev. Holding back the emotions and the hurt, I replied with "If you really love the guy you should be with him". At which point she thanked me for understanding.  I thought I had done the honorable thing by thinking "if you love someone, know when to let go."

Apparently my rival was Wieland, the mentor who gave her the motorcycle rides home. It felt as though I gradually became a lame duck boyfriend with the senior activities shared only because it would look improper to attend the activities with someone eight years older.

I felt betrayed and abandoned. I began to carry a "torch".  It remained lit for 13 years.  Bev got married to Wieland three years after the torch was lit.  The flame would continue to burn until I met and married "The One".