Love is Blind: A True Life Experience

Everybody has heard the saying "love is blind." Although very few of us have taken the time to apply it to our own relationships, it holds truth, for better or for worse. I spent one of my first serious relationships turning a blind eye to the faults of my significant other. He would blow me off, and I would make excuses for him. He would treat me with disrespect, and I would ignore it. He would play mind games with me, and I would grow to be even more infatuated with him. I insisted to myself that he actually loved me and cared about my feelings. My naiveté hurt me in so many ways. Looking back, I wonder how I could be such a masochist.

It was a typical weekend night for one of my best friends, Adrienne, and me. I was sixteen years old and we were getting ready to go out for the night with her friend, Jordan. He picked us up from her apartment late at night and drove us back to his house. The three of us spent the night talking and having fun. Adrienne entertained herself by playing her usual mind games with Jordan. A few hours into the evening, Jordan's brother Barry came home.

I was immediately attracted to Barry. He was tall, handsome, sweet, shy and a Marine (i.e. good body). He joined us for the remainder of the night and made random comments under his breath about me being beautiful. I was completely swept off my feet. When it was time for Adrienne and me to go home, I left with both regret and disappointment. I was regretful because I was too shy to let him know that I was attracted to him and I was disappointed because he was too shy to ask me out on a date.

When we got back to Adrienne's apartment, I let her know that I was interested in Barry. She got so excited and, of course, called him to let him know what I had just told her. After she told him what I had said, she handed the phone to me and said that he wanted to talk to me. I was bright red with embarrassment. I reluctantly took the phone from her and listened in utter silence. He said that he