I would have seen flaws in this, later in my life. I would have felt the impatience, even suspicion, a woman can feel towards a man who lacks a motive. Who has only friendship to offer and offers that so easily and bountifully that even if it is rejected he can move along as buoyantly as ever. Here was no solitary fellow hoping to hook up with a girl. Even I could see that, inexperienced as I was. Just a person who took comfort in the moment and in a sort of reasonable façade of life.
The narrator reflects on her past, recognizing that with age comes a different perspective on relationships. She acknowledges that she would have seen flaws in her earlier views, particularly regarding the dynamics of friendship between men and women. The ease with which a man offers friendship, devoid of ulterior motives, can evoke feelings of impatience or suspicion, especially from a woman who is attuned to the complexities of such interactions.
This contemplation highlights the challenges of navigating friendships when one party remains detached from romantic intentions. The narrator perceives the man as someone content in his existence, unburdened by the desire for romantic connection, which contrasts her own youthful understanding. This creates a poignant distinction between genuine companionship and the often complicated layers of attraction and expectation in relationships.
