I was out with my lab group (thirty-something-year-old single professor included) one night before the semester ended and I was talking to my professor about my relationship with Juan.  My professor is from Mexico and has travelled a bit, but he roughly understands the visa process that we have to go through to get Juan here.  As I was talking to him about my relationship, my professor says something along the lines of, “You mean you aren’t in an open relationship?” And I answered quite plainly, no, I’m not.  He didn’t seem to understand.

Why would I go through this emotional roller coaster just to be in an open relationship?  No, I’m not that kind of person.  Open relationships are not for me.  When I enter a relationship, it is with the full realization of the kind of commitment and dedication that it will take to make that relationship work, even beyond the boyfriend-girlfriend phase.  I don’t need to see other people.  I don’t need my desires satisfied by other people.  Just because my boyfriend is not present does not mean that I love him any less than I would if he were here.

-R