That’s when I realized I had it backwards. I thought I was protecting her. But she was protecting me. She was the one pulling me back from the ledge of cynicism that college so eagerly pushes you toward.
“I see the guys in the dining hall stealing from the penny tray,” she continued. “I know the landlord was lying about the water feature. I’m not confused. I just don’t want to spend my energy being suspicious. I’d rather be wrong sometimes and be happy most of the time.” College Stories. My Girlfriend Is Too Naive--- Free
That’s the trick. Naïveté isn’t a lack of intelligence. It’s a refusal to let the world harden you. Emily has a 3.9 GPA. She can recite Supreme Court cases from memory. She taught herself Python over winter break because she was “bored.” But she still believes that if you just explain your feelings clearly enough, the campus parking authority will forgive your ticket. That’s when I realized I had it backwards
She still leaves her laptop open in the library when she goes to the bathroom. She still Venmos strangers for “concert tickets” before they hand her the tickets. She still believes that the group project will be different this time. She was the one pulling me back from