On April 7, The PR Girl did something she never thought she would do: THE PR GIRL RAN A MARATHON. Yes, yes, yes, thank you. Congratulations may be sent in the form of J.Crew gift cards.
On May 4, this PR Girl is also doing something she never thought she would do: she will run the Mini-Marathon. Seems a bit anti-climatic, doesn't it? I mean, going from 26.2 miles down to 13.1 in less than a month might be a let down for some. But I am looking forward to the mini just as much...but it's more of a dreading, I-need-to-get-this-over-with feeling. You see, in order to get to my corral, I must walk past Marathon Man's store that just recently opened. What's the big deal, you might ask? Well, this store's concept was developed entirely during our relationship. In fact, I'm the one who spurred him on to open said store. I suggested the color scheme. I helped write and edit the business plan. I offered input in the research, planning, and design of the store. For good grief, I came up with the name of the store. Now, he has gone and trademarked the name I created. There is no bitterness, no anger pent up in me. Just sadness at the injustice of it all and frustration at the painful consequences of a deadened relationship. I truly want the store to do well. I want Marathon Man to succeed and be happy. It just really, really stinks that complete strangers are able to enjoy and rave about what a great place it is, and I won't ever be able to even step foot into a place that I put so much time, energy, and emotion. I know it's silly. It's just a little shop. But it's something that we both cared so much about, and it was what I thought was going to be a new era in my life. I was eagerly anticipating the adventure of the two of us being a part of a downtown family business.
So you may now understand why running in a race in which Marathon Man had signed me up and discovering that I must walk right past his ("our") newly opened store makes me a little anxious. But more than that, I am hoping that it will be yet another step in giving me closure - maybe even the final step of the moving on that I so desperately need. Marathon Man is a good man, but he really did a number on me. So hopefully after May 4, I can say no more to that.