“Meet me halfway,” demands friend not even meeting you 5% of way
Added 2024-05-28 10:00:02 +0000 UTC
Piece by Sara Gibbs, concept by Andrew Hickey, Image © Shutterstock
A non-autistic friend who wants you to meet them halfway actually means they’d like you to come the extra two and a half per cent in addition to the 95% you’ve already moved to accommodate them.
Graeme Hart, 38, would love to see you, but preferably at a noisy, crowded club with bright lights and sticky floors, a two-hour journey from your place but ten minutes from his.
Hart is aware that leaving your house in the first place is a huge challenge for you, but would really appreciate it if you made some effort to see him after a long, busy commute and in the most triggering environment he can think of.
He said: “I know you suffer from autism, but if I coddle you, you’ll never be able to deal with the real world.”
“How about a compromise?” He continued. “We could do a group hang with a bunch of people you don’t know. Or we could try a fancy new cuisine you’ve never had before? No? Fine, we’ll stay at my place and have a staring competition.”
Hart was last seen texting you the day after your meet up as you sat rocking back and forward in a darkened room trying to recover from the experience, saying: “Isn’t it nice to think of others?”
