Compatability

Deborah sighed as she ticked yet another 'C' on the quiz page. Her
heavy heart told her that the compatibility quiz she was filling out
for her and Steve in the latest glossy entitled "Are you destined to be
soul mates or just good mates?" would not turn out well.

Why was she even bothering? After sneaking a look ahead at the three
purple boxes which would eventually determine which of the 'options'
they would be she had already decided which she regrettably knew they
would be; "It's been nice knowing you but see you around, Mate."

Deborah sighed, blinked and filled in the last box. Crossing her
fingers as she counted their 'score' that her recent doubts and worries
had been unjustified - that they would turn out to be the soul mates
she had once believed them to be.

"36," she whispered to herself, almost choking on the number as she saw
it was the worst possible to get. She broke down completely. It was no
good - they would have to end their three-year relationship.

Perhaps though, she thought - with all the desperation of someone
clinging to the edge of a cliff by one hand - perhaps her already set
mind had caused her to be biased when answering the questions. She
couldn't throw away three years without at least having Steve answer
the questions as well. With that reassurance she continued to read the
magazine and tried to put the results out of her mind.

But where was Steve? Out with Dave, again. Off to look longingly at
snappy red sports cars or some such. Deborah doubted she would be able
to get Steve to answer the quiz. She would definitely get nowhere by
asking him. Steve, do something so 'girly' as to talk about his
feelings and read something in a women's' magazine? Never!

Steve would do anything before admitting to a sensitive side. He was
the ultimate 'male'. Always out with the boys. Always insisting they
got a faster car, or why not a motorbike?

At first, this had all been the attraction to Deborah. She had loved
the fact that Steve was so masculine. Now though, cracks were appearing
in the relationship but Steve just refused to discuss things. Something
had to be done.

Deborah couldn't go on like they were. When they went out in public, no
one would even have thought they were together. No physical contact or
shows of affection in public seemed to have become a binding yet
unspoken rule between them.

Even at home, with the curtains shut and all the privacy you could wish
for there remained a 30 cm gap between them as they sat, almost
silently, watching the television. Deborah missed the hugs and jokey
flirting that interrupted most programs they sat down to watch when
they were first together.

Steve even slept on the sofa some nights when he got home late. All he
ever replied when she implored with him not to do that was that he
'didn't want to wake her.'

Deborah left her magazine on the breakfast bar. It was open at the quiz
page (her answers erased) and a pencil surreptitiously placed within
sight. Then she went to bed, alone, and prayed that she would wake to
Steve's loving and more optimistic answers.

"Morning darling, did you have a good night? I've told you before to
come to bed when you get home, even if you do wake me up, I don't mind.
Sleeping on the sofa all the time will not do your back any good and I
miss you." Deborah said as she walked into the kitchen to find Steve
making coffee. The magazine lay closed and moved to one side.

"Morning," was his only reply.

"Did you have a good night?" Deborah repeated.

"Yeah, it was a bit of a laugh." He stated and offered her a cup before
walking into the lounge and turning on the TV.

Deborah followed, carrying the magazine.

"Did you, erm, happen to read this, at all?" She queried
haltingly.

"Of course not!" He sneered, "Full of girly psychobabble and nonsense
them! No man in his right mind would want to look at those," he
continued, "except, maybe, to steal a look at all the girls on the
fashion pages!" and at that he laughed loudly.

Deborah was angry. Who was he kidding?

"It's not nonsense and it isn't girly psychobabble! Maybe, just maybe
if you cared enough to look you might learn something that would help
our relationship!"

"What's wrong with our relationship? Eh? What are you saying? Come on
Debs, don't hold out on me!"

They were stood now, face to face, voices raised.

Deborah knew instinctively that this was where it would end.

"I'm saying, Steve, that I don't want to be with you anymore. We are
not compatible!" With that, she turned to storm out but Steve grabbed
her arm and spun her round to rage at her.

"What do you mean we aren't compatible? Where do you get that
from?"

"I suggest," she said coldly, "you bother to look in here." With a
pointed look at the discarded magazine she marched off to pack her
case.

Two minutes later he had followed her into the bedroom and was waving
the brightly coloured pages in her face.

"Is that what you mean? You filled this in? This... this quiz?!" He
sounded hysterical with anger. "You are going to let go of three years
because some piece of trash makes out it knows all the answers and you
believe it?"

Deborah turned around to look at him fully, tears in her eyes.

"No Steve, I wouldn't do that, I am, contrary to your belief, a
rational human being. I'm talking about the article on the next page."
She saw Steve's eyes fall on the headline - "Is your man just
pretending to be straight? - The men who marry to please their
mothers." and she continued talking, her voice more level now.

"That's right Steve, I know. You might say you are doing me a favour by
not waking me up when you get home but did you ever stop to think I
might actually be waiting up for you?"

"What... what are you talking about?" Steve managed to stutter.

"I heard you telling Dave that you wanted to be with him last night. I
know you are gay Steve. I know you've been having an affair and I know
these three years were just compensation to please your mother who
always wanted to see you married and with kids. I know Steve. We aren't
compatible. Goodbye."