Eric & Marcia [Mental changes, corruption]

What are we doing? Eric wondered, pacing back and forth across the bedroom. No, not we, what am I doing? Why did I pick that fight? Why couldn't I just let it go? The room was a mess. Last year he would have cleaned it before he left to pick up Marcia, but he had stopped bothering a few months ago. Even though they'd lived together for the past two years, he couldn't help but think of it as his mess.

What are we doing? Marcia wondered, staring at her phone on the park bench. Why do I keep pushing his buttons until he explodes? Why can't I just enjoy being around him like I used to? Their recent texts looked more like two parents planning playdates than two 30-year-olds in a relationship, all logistics and excuses and totally devoid of anything resembling warmth. She had to scroll distressingly far to find the last time one of them had even made a joke. Marcia noticed that Eric had kept flirting and joking longer than she had, but it seemed like she had worn him down eventually.

Eric and Marcia had been together for 5 years at that point, but both of them would readily admit that the last year was due mostly due to inertia than anything either of them did. Eric was a high school teacher, and he found himself acting more like Marcia's teacher than her boyfriend recently. Marcia was an artist, and she had buried herself deeper and deeper into her work as the relationship frayed.

As much as they could tell it wasn't working, neither could bring themselves to even think of breaking up. Marcia looked at Eric and saw a compassionate, caring, and patient man, but couldn't stop herself from pushing that patience past its breaking point just to see that she could. Eric looked at Marcia and saw a loving, creative free spirit with a unique and wonderful view of the world, but any time they disagreed he had to make sure she saw it his way. Neither one could see their own sabotage in the moment, but afterwards it always felt painfully clear.

Stewing in the emotional wreckage of another fight, Eric and Marcia looked back at their relationship and both could only see their own flaws.

Marcia remembered the hurt in Eric's eyes when he realized she had tuned him out. I just wish I could be the person he wants me to be, she thought.

Eric remembered the sadness written on Marcia's face when he couldn't remember the anniversary gift she got him last year. I just wish I could be the person she wants me to be, he thought.

Unfortunately for them, someone was listening.