His ex was apparently on the syllabus

Over coffee, he said he'd learned a lot from his last relationship. Great. As a woman trying to stop treating basic self-awareness like a luxury feature, I was cautiously pleased. Then he took out a packet titled "What Went Wrong: Participant Edition." He wanted us to read his breakup texts aloud. I would play his ex. He would play himself, but "with improved pacing." I said absolutely not. He assured me the names were changed. Her new name was Ex Person A. Mine, written in pencil on the cover, was Prospective Person B. He read his opening line anyway, then stared at me. I drank my coffee. He whispered, "Your cue." I told him I wasn't workshopping his breakup. He flipped ahead to a section labeled Resistance and asked whether I often struggled with collaborative exercises. I gathered my things. He asked if I could at least complete the feedback form. I wrote, "Believe Ex Person A." Finally, a group project where everyone agreed without meeting.