“I don’t think I can do this anymore.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You and me. This whole… romantic relationship. It isn’t working out.”

“What? No. We had a rough start, but things are getting better! You asked me to be patient with you, and I am.”

“No, I asked you to understand that I don’t feel attraction the way that you do. And I’ve realized, what you heard when I said that was, be patient with me. And wait until the day I do start to feel that attraction. Because you expect me to change.”

“I don’t want you to change. I want you to be happy. I want us to be happy. Aren’t we happy? Yesterday at the beach -”

“I wanted to claw off my skin! All day long, I wanted to be anywhere but there! And you didn’t notice. You didn’t notice I was uncomfortable.”

“You should’ve said something!”

“I’ve been saying something! But then you get all puppy-eyes and talk about how much you want us to be happy and how much you love me…”

“You don’t think I love you?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“Then what, you don’t love me?”

“Not the way you want me to. I’ve said this before.”

“Yeah, but everything’s been fine since then!”

“I’ve been bending over backwards to keep you happy! Because every time I say I’m not comfortable, or I’m not happy, you tell me I’m wrong!”

“Then what should I do? Tell me what you need me to do to make you happy.”

“I need you to understand - really understand - that I don’t feel about you the way you feel about me. That I’m never going to want to give you the things you want me to. That you’ve imagined a role for me that I’m not comfortable filling in your life. And I don’t think you can do that.”

“I can! I can. Just give me another chance.”

“I don’t want to give you that chance. I mean, part of me does, but… I’ve had enough of being uncomfortable. And I’m sorry, but I can’t prioritize your feelings anymore.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m breaking up with you. You need to find someone who actually fits that image you have in your head of me. And I need to be able to breathe.”