The One that Got Away

There was Stephen. Then there was Michael. There was Gene whose real name was Kurt but whom I called Mister I Love You. And the last one's name was David.
Stephen moved from Baltimore to New York City. He liked knowing someone with a car. I don't know why or when we broke up. Clearly it wasn't the great heartache of my life.
Michael was a pothead and liked to drink beer. He was also quite anti-tobacco. I smoked, but his product was acceptable but mine was not. Michael was also in the closet. He lived with his blind father. Never introduced me to him. Not quite sure what his mental diagnosis was. He worked for decades as a Spanish teacher for the Board of Education in New York City. He didn't have a phone. And when I wrote him a letter he sent it back RETURN TO SENDER. He was cruel and he repeated things that I had told him about people in my life to those very people.
We have since mended differences. But this time I really have nothing to do with him.
Mr I Love You worked as a hairdresser and master colorist. He was generous and an excellent cook. But he liked to drink and he was very passive. Our relationship ended when I told him that I loved him. That was his ultimate buzz kill.
David? He was a phlebotomist and worked as a handy man in the building in which he had lived. He wanted me to move in with him (his ex-lover was moving to Palm Springs). I thought I would have the ex-lover's room. Turned out, the ex-lover was sill keeping the room in the apartment; the move to Palm Springs was part time. We call this lying by omission.
One day around xMas as I was packing to move in, I came home to find all the things I had left at his place. He wrote that he couldn't be with me because I was too wild and unpredictable. I had died my hair red without his approval or permission.
No one has been in my life since. That was 1992.
I'm a registered democrat. I've never fired a gun. Never helped a friend who wanted an abortion. Never sold drugs. I experimented in college (weed, black beauties, Quaaludes) Nothing ever came of any of it. I am actually happy with being able to go my own way without having to have discussions.