by Trish Austin

Created on: March 24, 2010   Last Updated: May 13, 2010

Karen was going to go mad. She was sure of it. She'd lose her mind if she went out with another man and it ended like it did with Jeff. She slammed a notebook down on the counter and screamed. Thinking about all she did for Jeff.  All she had risked for him. When was she going to learn, she asked herself. Her big brown eyes suddenly welled up with tears. She'd lost count how many toads had broken her heart. That's what she called the jerks who she let get too close and who threatened her fragile heart.

The phone rang. While blowing her nose, Karen rushed to the phone. "Hello" she said, not  even checking caller ID. She longed for a distraction of any kind.
"Hey! how are you doing?" said Monica.
"Hi, Monica. I'm fine" Karen strained  not to sound like she'd been crying.
"You don't sound fine" replied Monica.
"Jeff broke up with me last night. Like you haven't heard this a million times" Karen said laughing through her tears.

"What happened?  Last time we talked you were the perfect couple" replied Monica." Candles , flowers, picnics and wine " Monica sounding like she was ticking off a grocery list.
" I'm naive. That's what happened. I'm a 35 year old little girl when it comes to men. When will I grow up?" Karen stated with sudden composure.
" I have kids. Every time this happens it interferes with my priorities. My kids! It makes me wonder why I don't use my skills on some of these ogres."




" I mean come on if any one deserves it. It's Jeff. He could've given me herpes! "
" What? " Monica asked in shock.
" A few months ago he came up with some lame story that he just found out that he had herpes. I know he knew all along. He just didn't tell me. But, NO , did I break up with him then? Of course not, naive Karen went into denial and I don't mean the river. I believed him. I thought he was worth the risk of my getting Herpes. We always used protection and he took this medication. But, there was still a risk.  Is that stupid? "





"Even when he'd tell me, you never know a person until you peel the onion layers back. He wasn't too smart either. Doesn't it go people are like onions, you never  know a person until all the layers are pulled backed. Or people are like onions they have many layers and are complex? Anyway, he was  telling me he had more secrets. I still hung on to the romance and to his packaging. I make myself sick."

"You're being too hard on yourself Karen" Monica said.
"Well, Jeff makes me sicker. One minute I'm the love of his life. Then, poof he doesn't want to see me any more." Karen uses a tone that scares Monica.






Monica interrupted," You can't do anything to Jeff. You know what happened last time."
" Yes, I know what happened last time. However, if you remember last time the jerk was nearly a midget. What was he 5'5"? But, who would ever believe that a 5ft 1in 107 lb woman could come close to doing physical harm to a 6ft 3in  muscle bound ripped man? Just thinking of the satisfaction I would get from dislocating his jaw, just a tad. I'd say that would be fair compensation for the heartache and the inconvenience he's putting me through"
"And the years of Karate lessons. For what Monica?" continued Karen.
"Karen,who do you think you are? Uma Thurman in Kill Bill?" Monica yelled.
Karen began to laugh, and told Monica," Don't worry. I'm not going to do anything. I'll just go and take one those happy pills my doctor gave  me and I'll be fine. I'm not going to do anything. I promise."





"Oh, one last thing Monica, Karen asks, how many broken hearts do you think  a person can go through before it  messes with their mind?"
"Monica never mind".  Karen already knew the answer.

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