Had a good friend once who was bipolar (literally, diagnosed) and crazy as hell. I had to make excuses as to why I wouldn’t sleep with her — it didn’t work out. It wasn’t enough that she had a boyfriend and I wasn’t that kind of guy (who would sleep with someone knowing they were in a committed relationship, despite not knowing the person they’re in a relationship with or owing him anything but basic human decency). I think it helped when I said I wasn’t really in a position to provide for her (he was). Now, if I had been, she probably would have left that guy for me. Which would have been an all-around bad move. Easy come, easy go, as they say. Eventually she’d get tired of me and find a side piece to either cheat on me with, or leave me for. And that woulda got me pretty messed up.

She was fun for a while though. She’d take me out, buy me lunch, we’d hang out, listen to music, but eventually I realised she was courting me. We’d go back to hers when her fella was at work, and she’d strip, tell me she needed it, so I’d tell her to take care of it, and she would, right then and there. Finish herself off, no shame about it, get back dressed and we’d go back out and do whatever. I don’t think she was on medication or the proper care of a doctor or mental health professional. I wasn’t really equipped to deal with that kinda thing, so I backed out slowly and eventually she just stopped calling or coming around.

So yeah, bullet dodged.

Last I heard, she got married and moved to another country. Not too far away but still. Who knows where they are now.