Too Good
“You see, I’m bothered by the fact that you have money!”
“Bothered?!”
“Yes!”
Thea didn’t respond. She turned on her heel and walked away from the scene. She was deeply frustrated but knew there was nothing to be done. But why bother?
Thea had always been someone who achieved everything on her own. In school, she aimed for the top grades, surprising both teachers and classmates. She was the type who shed tears over an A-minus. Her peers rolled their eyes and secretly envied even her high B’s. They’d be ecstatic with the grades she brushed off. Teachers would sigh and tell her not to be so obsessed and that mistakes happen, and she’d surely get an A next time. But Thea needed it now. Immediately.
Coming home from school, she would dive straight into her homework. Her mum and grandmother watched on, amazed.
“Take a break, Thea! The weather’s lovely outside,” her grandmother would say.
“There’s a test tomorrow. I’ve got to prepare,” Thea would reply.
Tossing her beautiful braid over her shoulder, she would return to her books. She also loved reading.
“You’re ruining your eyesight! We’ve told you not to sit so long with those books!” her mum would lament.
“Just a bit more! It’s so fascinating,” Thea would plead, clutching the book she was engrossed in.
Her mum would shake her head and head to the kitchen, where she and her grandmother would discuss Thea’s promising future.
“As long as it’s not at the expense of her health!” her grandmother would invariably add. “If only she stays healthy…”
Naturally, Thea graduated with top honors. She got into a prestigious university after surpassing a tough competition. She excelled there too.
She didn’t even have to hunt for a job. As soon as she defended her thesis, job offers rolled in. She had to choose between two positions and selected the one closer to home.
Her hard work and dedication paid off at her job as well. Her efforts were recognized, rewarded, and her salary increased. Soon, Thea bought her own flat and moved out from her mum and grandma’s place.
“Oh, granddaughter,” sighed her grandmother, “I know you’re grown up and want to live alone, but we’ll miss you so much!”
“Don’t worry, Granny! I’ll visit often. We’re still in the same city, not miles away,” Thea assured with a smile, hugging her grandmother.
“If you find a suitor, bring him over to meet us,” her grandmother added, wiping a tear. “You’re such a catch, with a good income; someone might try to take advantage. But I’ve got a keen eye for rascals.”
“Don’t worry, Granny, I’m no fool. I can spot them too,” Thea laughed.
“Like how you spotted one already?” her grandmother teased, giving a meaningful look to Thea’s mother, Mary, who protested, “Mum, come on! Are you going to remind me forever?”
Mary disliked talking about her former beau: the charming man who swept her off her feet and fathered Thea. She kept her liaison with him a secret from her mother, but he turned out to be deceitful. Eventually, he ended up in jail and sent a message to Mary from there, thinking she still loved and would forgive him. She didn’t. Deciding to raise Thea alone was a choice she never regretted, and her mother was always there to help…
Despite her grandmother’s advice, Thea wasn’t in any hurry to introduce her family to Alex. She liked him. He intrigued her. She expected nothing from him, which endeared her to Alex. Thea was intelligent, lovely, confident, knew what she wanted, paid her own bills, and was generally independent. Moreover, Alex had recently broken up with someone completely unlike Thea. The stars had aligned.
Alex was a freelance artist, still “finding himself.” Thea, practical and pragmatic, felt she lacked romance in her life, and Alex was full of it – he brought her flowers, gave gifts, often spending his last pound, as money was often tight. Commissions came and went, but it was clear Alex had talent. And Thea became his muse. He painted her portraits, which sold well, though sometimes he lost inspiration and produced nothing. Thea frequently told him not to be lazy—success needed only his perseverance; he already had the talent. He always joked that he needed only her, Thea, to be happy, and they’d find their way to the bedroom…
Alex often stayed over at Thea’s place. His small flat served as a studio canvassed with paints and canvases; his tiny, old couch stood in the kitchen where he sometimes slept.
Thea never proposed living together, and Alex never insisted. She didn’t control him, demanded no commitment, had no dreams of a family or children, asked for no expensive gifts, unlike his previous girlfriend. Why would she need that? She could buy anything she wanted herself.
Thea frequently paid not just for herself, but also for him: dinners in restaurants, trips, and other leisure activities, forgiving his recurring “broke periods” while offering solutions. She tried helping Alex improve his art sales, find more commissions, sometimes suggesting jobs that would allow him to keep painting. However, Alex disliked changes, and something about the jobs never quite suited him—wages, hours. He’d chuckle ruefully, saying he was a free spirit and maybe that’s just how it should be. Thea disagreed and continued trying to help him.
Despite all this, Alex was satisfactory for her, and she made no demands. She was happy with him. Only with him could she relax both in mind and body.
But one day, during a stroll amid light talks about the weather and cultural happenings—topics of Alex’s interest—he suddenly said they should part ways. Thea was shocked. They stopped and sat on a bench. Thea had already mentally mapped out the evening’s dinner they’d share—she’d even prepared food and drinks in advance. Such an outcome had never crossed her mind…
Alex began a convoluted explanation that she was too good for him, that he hadn’t achieved anything substantial yet. His finances were shaky, and he had nothing significant to offer. Thea, on the other hand, was impressive and self-sufficient. She solved her problems alone, asked nothing of anyone, acted confidently and independently, and possessed wealth.
“That bothers me! Don’t you see? It bothers me!” Alex declared. “You decide how and where to spend it. You deny yourself nothing. You can buy what you desire, whilst I counts pennies. I notice your expression when you get my gifts. You politely says thanks and all that sweet stuff, yet what took me two months to save up for, you could buy immediately with a swipe of your card. Your bag itself is worth how much! I’d need to work three months to afford it.”
“So my success bothers you?!” Thea was stunned. “How can you say that? You, of all people, know how much effort it took to earn this money! I work tirelessly for it. You’re blaming my success? I never nagged or mocked you!”
Alex remained silent, turning away.
Thea simply stood up and walked off. Why argue? To what end? Instead of striving to reach her level, he gave up, quit the race. He could’ve shared his insecurities, and they’d have figured something out together. But no. He chose to break up. Money bothered him! So why not earn it? He had brains, talent, skillful hands, creativity! No? Alright. Let him be. He’s a free spirit…
Thea was immensely angry at Alex. Her grandmother was right—plenty are eager to mooch off others, then complain.
***
“So when will you introduce your fiancé?” her grandmother asked during Thea’s next visit.
“I don’t have one, Granny…” her granddaughter replied sadly.
“Really? Can’t be true.”
“It is. I suppose I’ll end up a spinster. Like they say, with forty cats,” Thea smiled.
“Don’t be down, dear. You’ve got time!” her mother chimed in. “Just find an equal partner.”
“Perhaps. But I don’t feel inclined. I realized I can do everything? Why add a burden? Just to be nagged?”
Despite her somber mood, Thea did find love later on. A similarly driven young man fell for her, and she for him.
They understood each other effortlessly, as they were so alike. With hard work, they achieved their goals step by step. Together, united. They shared plans and celebrated achievements.
Once, Thea saw Alex on the street. He was painting a lady, seated before an easel on a boulevard. Next to him were other artists sketching the scene. Thea almost didn’t recognize him; Alex appeared tired and worn. He instantly recognized her and quickly averted his gaze as if she were a stranger.
As Thea passed by in her new shoes, worth, as Alex once noted, two of his wages, she mused that everyone chooses their path. It seemed he was comfortable at his current level, unwilling to rise. As they say, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush…
