A scorpion asks a frog to carry it across a river. The frog hesitates, afraid of being stung, but the scorpion argues that if it did so, they would both drown. Considering this, the frog agrees, but midway across the river the scorpion does indeed sting the frog, dooming them both. When the frog asks the scorpion why, the scorpion replies that it was in its nature to do so. – Wikipedia on The Scorpion and the Frog
*Note: I came upon this fable while looking up the movie The Crying Game
I love fables. As a kid, I loved reading short stories, pulling meaning out of them to try and relate or possibly use the moral to better myself, to reflect. The feeling of going “hmm!” after understanding the moral is one of the best feelings ever. Regarding the fable above, the moral is that certain natures cannot be reformed. They’re expected. Some things people can’t change about themselves. Or maybe, it’s just certain people can’t change. Just as it’s in a scorpion’s nature to sting a prey, it’s not within a possum’s nature (or rather its natural ability) to change their skin like a chameleon as a defense mechanism.
Some people will always have a temper. Have jealousy issues. Some people enjoy being tormented. Be wanted. To drown with someone. Even with the facts laid out, the decision will always point to what’s in our nature to act as. When will the cycle break? Is it just how things will always be for some? Thing is, even if it’s not within a possum’s ability to change its skin like a chameleon, it can play dead.
It has its own way of fighting back, to survive.
When’s is the right time to end a relationship that’s obviously toxic? If you have to itemize what makes the other person worth the problems you’re going through, maybe that’s a sign. Your reasoning should not have an asterisk on it. And maybe you can’t itemize, because there’s such few reasons to stay. But still, you do. Like I have done. Because of normalcy. In hopes that the other person changes. And yet, it’s not in our power to make that person change. The only thing we control is ourselves and our actions. Sometimes, the simplest way is the best way.
Walk away.
Flayed Syntax 