Trying To Maintain a Toxic Relationship: A Fable

A frog and a scorpion sat on the edge of a very large, deep and dark pond gazing at the other side.

"Just look at that" pondered the scorpion, "I bet over there is where happiness is".

"It does look pretty" agreed the frog.

The scorpion sighed, "You know over there, we could be so much happier, you and I. Over there we could be more ourselves, more at peace, we would be better together. Our problem is we're stuck here, in this place. Stuck with this version of us."

The frog glanced up. "Do you think so?"

"Absolutely!" shouted the scorpion with contagious excitement. "All we'd need is for you to commit to getting us there!"

"I don't know" replied the frog. "You've tried to hurt me before."

"See, this is your problem" snarled the scorpion, "always the victim. Always finding the downside. Over there we would both benefit! Over there we would both be our better selves! Can't you see, this is our only chance to be the best creatures we can be!"

The frog saw the earnest in the scorpion's eyes and heard the excitement in it's voice. What was there to lose? They could always go their separate ways later down the line.

"Fine" said the frog, "I'll do this for us. Get on my back and I'll take us to our future."

The pair set out across the deep, dark pond, but half way through the journey the frog felt a fatal sting slip into its back.

"Why would you do that?! We're nearly there! Now we'll both drown!"

"What are you talking about?!" screamed the scorpion. "You're being hysterical! It's all in your head! You're crazy! You only see what suits you to see! You always see the worst in me ..."

... As they both slipped under the water, never to be seen again.