Chronic Illness, Part 2

(Continuation of previous story, Chronic Illness...)

Instant gratification is very prevalent in the Bubble. Bubblees medicate by making split second decisions to feel better in the moment without considering the long term consequences. We're all guilty of making bad decisions and satisfying sudden urges. However, the average person doesn't continually go about doing things that way. Bubblees, on the other hand, never learn to stop operating in this knee jerk fashion. As a matter of fact, their lives come to be defined by their inability to make decisions with any sort of long-term view in mind.

That issue isn't the sole identifying characteristic of people who are mired in the Bubble. Among other perverse personality traits, they are also skilled at manipulating people. For some of them, it's how they get by in life. Eventually the truth comes to light and they proceed to find their next prey. Since we're a society of givers and takers, it's inevitable that the Bubblee will find somebody to come to the rescue. Suckers, like me, make it possible for these people to live like this.

Diego's story is a perfect example of this mentality. I truly don't think he woke up one morning and decided to find an idiot on a college campus who was willing to buy his story. I still feel like he wanted to major in Human Services so that he could help other addicts--or maybe I'm just extremely naive. My bet is that between the first time I met him and the day he called me, something happened to put him in a bad place.

Another truth about Bubblees is that they are not terribly resilient. The slightest obstacle can send them off course. In the case of Diego, it could very well be that an old friend came around with some "stuff" and he had a relapse--or perhaps somebody told him that college would be too hard and he just gave up on the dream. Either way, I believe Diego suffered some type of setback that lead him to dial my number and ask for a "loan." Instead of working through whatever issue he was dealing with, Diego decided that his relationship with me had a price tag on it.

Me: How much money are you looking for?
Diego: $50
Me: When do you need it?
Diego: Today. Listen, man. I swear to you. I'll pay it back. For real.
Me: Today?? I'm not even home right now.
Diego: Please. I'm begging you. Where ever you are, if you could bring it to me I would be really grateful. I just don't want something to happen to my mom. Know what I mean? The bus is leaving soon!
Me: (annoyed) Where are you?
Diego: I'm over by Elm Park.
Me: I'll bring you the money. Meet me by the ice cream truck.

I gave him the money. The sullen, duplicitous look on his face told the story. I knew instantly that I'd never get that money back (from him, at least)... Months later, I ran into him at a supermarket. He was with a woman. Maybe it was his new prey. Diego came over to tell me that he hadn't forgotten about his debt. I simply told him that I didn't give him the money expecting the debt to be repaid and walked away. It was sad to see a broken man burn a bridge for $50...