Dum-dum, dum-dum... my heart drums. A rhythmical thud. The beats resound in my chest. Valentine's Day gone by, another year without a hitch. Cupid and I had a pact. He'd twang his bow, but miss the shot. Archers are masters of the dodge. Wielders of the arrow. A battle cry to take aim, then fire! Target hit, quickly losing interest. No intention of settling down, the thrill was in the chase. If Cupid chooses to strike us, the hooves stamp, the nostrils flare, the eyes dilate... A prancing horse. Stressed. Frivolous. Backing away from invitations and romantic gestures. A wild horse unwilling to be tethered. Aloofness. A centaur, caught between two natures. Skittish mare or valiant steed. Both wisely used to their advantage.
True archers are hard work. Untamed teachers. Preferring to roam the land, stay unattached. Seeking here, seeking there, is their chief employment. Uncertain what the search is for, but sure it will bring meaning. An endless quest. A perpetual movement for liberation. Being hunted has a strange effect. Many of us plan escapes or turn reclusive. Text and email messages ignored. Excuses made. Obstacles put in the way. Requests constantly declined. Too busy. A flash of stubbornness. In our repeated efforts to flee, we come across as blunt and tactless. A cruel, insensitive streak coming through. Pushed to spell out, in a-don't-mess-with-me tone: S.P.A.C.E.
As couples snuggled up on Valentine's night, many archers would have been grateful. A sigh of relief. These couples can keep their smugness. We're still free. In relationships, archers can feel it's okay to drop out, just go. We don't follow the standard etiquette. No wish to comply, to be “normal”. We don't want 24/7 company, to do all the things couples are supposed to do together. The pursuit of separate interests, (or even living spaces ), to us is essential. Partners who can abide by this need are rare. Hackles get raised, the inevitable question asked, “Don't you want to see me?” To which, an archer usually replies: “Time out.”
If reading this, you're still thinking, can archers be tamed? The answer is, it may appear so. but archers can be deceptive. The other half led to believe they've broken this wild horse in. Whereas the archer in fact has the upper hand. The partner's been trained to hold the reins. To trot at their side, on their terms. The perfect match is long-distance or a person who operates the same. The alternative is to track down a horse whisperer or go it alone. Wave farewell to the battle scars. The wounded. Let other couples build their nests. More content to continue their sport: Aim, shoot and miss.
