by Maggie Miller

Created on: May 26, 2009

Contrary to popular belief, human nature is not always conducive to thinking things through. Sure, we've evolved enough to make complicated decisions and multitask, activating multiple sectors of our brains at once. But when it comes to fighting, thinking things through is the last thing on our agendas. There is no thought; there is, however, false accusations, harsh words, snappy decisions, and split personalities. And for most of us, counting to ten doesn't quite cut it.

The worst part is, we've all been there. We can all conjure up memories of that fight we wished we could forget or that moment when we snapped. My worst moment happened a month ago at a bar where the boy I'd seen on and off for over a year was sitting with his friend, drinking beers. We were supposed to talk about a questionable decision we'd both made a few nights earlier, but he'd avoided me as usual. So I snapped. He tried being nice to me, but I was too angry to talk. Then I changed my approach, apologizing and suggesting we talk later and just have fun. But his idea of fun did not involve me, so he continued to do his own thing all night. So I snapped again on the way out, and continued our argument via text message until three in the morning. He mentioned how crazy he thought it was when we finally did talk, and I tried to explain that his indifference was fueling my anger. Either way, I regretted how off the wall I'd acted that night. I think I snapped maybe twice in our entire year +, and both times were a result of him not treating me how I'd hoped to be treated when I was out in public with him.

The fact that I've snapped a few times has weighed on my mind, but I didn't realize how bad fights could really get until last night. It was Memorial Day Eve and Shar and I were at a local dive bar finishing off a pitcher of Miller Lite when two of the boy's friends walked in. Mark knew the boy probably since high school and his girlfriend, Sheila, was initiated into the group by association. Mark and Sheila were two people I'd actually enjoyed hanging out with because they were friendly and seemed like genuinely nice people. They bickered on and off, but it seemed like any normal couple's bickering would have.

We said hello to them and caught up for a while before retreating back to our original conversations. I was in the middle of asking Shar something when Sheila cried, "Help me get his phone!" I turned to see the two locked in a wrestling match for Mark's cell phone. I extended

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