Happiness is in Perspective.

So last night Kelly and I headed down to Ty and Stacey’s house to clean up the last remaining ties of what was Kelly and Ty’s relationship three after TOD. It was an odd feeling going with her-the realization that everything that happens now with Ty will be because of real friendship and not left over obligation to keep the peace or keep up appearances.

I tried not to watch Kelly’s face as Ty showed off Stacey and their new house and new computer and two car garage and puppy dog a and a million other things that couldn’t really be theirs and just wonder at whether Ty had somehow ended up happier than Kelly was. Much more than any of us thought he could be. I don’t think either of us could believe how awkward it was as Stacey—the girl who never liked Kelly or me—followed us through the house as Ty showed off the bed they share with this look about her—that she won.

And did she win? Maybe—she has the man and the house and the dog and a million little toys but I also know enough about Ty to know that he is not happy. Maybe he is content and he was always simple but he isn’t 1/3 happy as he was with Kelly. I know that still to this day and while he has let go—he still knows what he had a chance at and what he lost. It’s hard to feel that way towards someone I adore and lord knows he deserves happiness but I don’t think this is the way to get it.

The funny thing is as we left their driveway as Ty and Stacey waved us off with the dog chasing behind us—stuffing ourselves with chocolate and fighting the urge to run—we both knew how impressive that Stacey and Ty’s life is; on paper anyway. An as we drove back up to Studio City through the traffic, I felt something drifting away as Kelly asked why she couldn’t have the good Ty and all the stuff he and Stacey had and what did she have that they didn’t? I thought about it a moment.

“A real chance at happiness?”