I spoke with her on the phone after a couple months of no contact, and I was not in a very good headspace. I ended up crying and telling her that my life has been very difficult ever since we broke up, and that I feel very alone.

She not only scoffed, but told me that's just how life goes and that I need to "Buck up". She pretty much went on a monologue saying that I'm only miserable because I hold myself back, and that she really couldn't care less whether I was struggling or not, because "That's life dude. you need to figure it out and cry alone because nobody wants to be your therapist"

if you're thinking about breaking contact and re-entering their life, do yourself a favor and don't. her voice was so incredibly cold, and it was like I was crying to someone who couldn't give less of a shit about me.

DO NOT BREAK NO CONTACT. THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU AND IF THEY DID, THEY WOULD HAVE REACHED OUT TO YOU

I just want to move on with my life and not think about him all the time. I wake up thinking about him, I go to sleep thinking about him and he constantly pops up in my mind throughout the day or something reminds me of him. When will this end? It’s making it so hard to move on.

damn grief is a btch

It’s been a rough week, but I made it here!!! Let’s celebrate our little wins and inspire each other to keep going. ❤️

How far along are you in your no-contact journey? How are you holding up?

Please resist the urge to reach back out. Do not shatter your silence just because loneliness creeps in during a quiet evening and tricks you into believing you need to hear their voice. I understand completely. There were countless nights I sat frozen with my phone in my hand, debating whether to type that message and convincing myself that this time would somehow be different.

It only ever left me feeling more empty.

I actually caved about a month ago. I told myself I just needed some finality and that a brief conversation would bring me peace. It did not. The exact same dynamic resurfaced immediately, leaving me disappointed all over again.

That was the exact turning point when I knew I had to break the cycle.

Since then, I have poured my energy into my own life. I am picking up extra shifts, hitting the gym regularly, catching up with loved ones, writing in my journal, rewatching my favorite movies, and staying active whenever the temptation to reconnect flares up.

The absence still aches. Some days are still heavy. I am not completely healed overnight. I am finally coming to terms with the fact that reopening communication every time I feel lonely will never take away the pain of the breakup.

And quite frankly, I am exhausted from staring at a screen waiting for a notification. I refuse to let my happiness hinge on whether they reply or what they choose to say.

Maybe they return one day, or maybe they stay gone. I cannot control that. I am actively trying to let go of those thoughts because I refuse to spend the upcoming months waiting around for a door that might never open.

If you are currently debating whether to reach out, pause and put the phone down. Find any distraction possible. Call a family member, step outside for fresh air, take a long hot bath, put on a comedy, or type out what you want to say in your notes app instead. Just buy yourself a little time before you make a move you will wish you could take back.

I promise the weight lifts over time. It feels unbearable right now, but this pain is temporary.

6 MONTHS LATER UPDATE:

Wow. I am amazed by how much my world has transformed. Things truly do improve. I moved into a place of my own, secured a career I actually look forward to, and surrounded myself with a support system that shows up. I feel lighter and at peace. I am still unattached, and I love it. I am taking a break from dating because my life feels full already.

My ex did try to reconnect down the road. We spent time together a couple of times casually, but I quickly recognized it was holding me back. I communicated that I had to prioritize my own well-being and walked away for good. They still reach out every once in a blue moon, but it no longer shakes me. I do not even need to overthink it anymore.

I stand by every word I shared before. Maintaining distance saved me. Pouring that energy back into myself changed everything. I am proud of the person looking back at me in the mirror, and I am genuinely thankful the relationship ended. They were not meant to be my forever, and that is completely fine.

Also, someone named Shannon in this subreddit recommended Uncling, a breakup recovery app, during my healing process. It honestly helped me stay consistent with no contact and self improvement, so thank you to Shannon for sharing it.

For example, if a girl was begging you to change your mind/decision and you said a bunch of stuff you didn’t truly mean to get her to leave you alone. Like you don’t love her anymore, you don’t miss the relationship, you’re never getting back together etc.
just curious, thanks!

As I’m writing this I’m imagining myself in the future, after finally getting the strength and courage to move on fully. He’s blocked, all pictures of us are deleted and there’s been no contact for several months, maybe even a whole year.

To the version of me who’s struggling every day:

Eventually you will forget about him. You’ll think less of the good times where he was sweet and attentive. You’ll be able to focus more on how the relationship was as a whole: the anxiety you felt when you thought you made him mad because you knew how he’d snap at you. The invalidation you received when you were looking for emotional support. The way he always needed to contradict everything you thought. How little by little, you stopped feeling safe to be vulnerable around him and how he made that a you problem when you stopped opening up. How he’d blow up at you for trying to let him know something he said hurt your feelings. The way he made subtle digs at you, the way he tried to make you feel jealous. Maybe the good times were real, but so was all the bad. And if he by some miracle called you and told you he loved you again and wanted to be with you, it would still be the same thing. Eventually you’ll feel like everything that happened, the sleepless nights, the endless tears, the feeling of inadequacy, the begging, will all feel like a bad dream.

He will stop occupying your head space. You’ll find other things to fill that void. You’ll spend more time with friends. You’ll get back into your hobbies. You’ll eventually meet other people. You will stop putting him on a pedestal he doesn’t deserve that he never asked for. And you’ll feel better about yourself. You’ll learn to love yourself outside of what he thinks. Because you existed long before he ever showed up. You’ll be happy again, you’ll live in the moment again without feeling his absence. You’ll love yourself again.

You were your own person, with your own thoughts and opinions, lived experiences, hopes, dreams and priorities. He was just a chapter in your life.

When you start to miss the late night talks, remember how quick he was to shoot down your opinions as being outright wrong. When you reminisce about the times he was sweet and thoughtful, remember the snide comments and subtle digs he passed off as “jokes.” When you long for the way he held you, kissed you, all the pet names he had for you, remember the casual way he’d talk about other girls he wanted to sleep with, or all the other girls he claimed wanted him. When you find yourself wishing for him to reach out, or debating whether or not you should text him, remember how he told you to kill yourself, that the world is better off with you dead.

Most importantly, remember who you were before he came along. Remember all the other people in your life who love you and care about you. His opinion of you is just a drop in a bucket compared to all the others who see you for who you are and accept you completely.

Remember this, and if he ever decides to try and come back, don’t let him. Never let that man in again after remembering all the ways he hurt you.

Note to self. May a “love” like that never find me again.

Literally still trying to figure out what happened. It’s Hard not to ruminate on something like this. I was seeing this incredible woman for the past 4 months we were semi long distance, but we would make the effort to see each-other every other weekend. When we were together it was pretty extraordinary, genuinely one of the best connections I’ve had out of my relationships. Everything was going really good, communication was good down to the little things. Anyways the last time we saw each-other she had agreed to wanting to meet my mom(I figured it was appropriate because I’ve met her parents), and we had a lil dinner set. Well that same week she withdrew and became distant then by Friday i got this text and then blocked on essentially everything . It sucks really bad, and honestly it sideswiped me pretty bad(the 2 texts i sent never even made it to her inbox). Genuinely was out of left field. Im glad i got some response i guess? Although to be completely honest to be discarded and blocked on everything besides 1 app really hurt, and made me question things about myself whether i did something wrong and whatnot. This genuinely may be one of the most traumatic situations that has happened to me in a relationship and I’ve had some wicked things happen in the past. Hopefully I will be on the up and up soon.

Hi, I'm 27F, and I'm having a really hard time figuring out how to move on. My life has revolved around him for so long that I don't even know how to live without him anymore. I miss him so much, but I know we can't be together anymore.

I'm scared to start over. I'm afraid that I might never find someone else or that no one will ever fall in love with me again. For the longest time, he was the person I pictured myself building a future with, and now I'm scared of what my life will look like without him.

How did you learn to live without someone who has been such a big part of your life for so long? I could really use some advice right now.

I went through a devastating and traumatic discard a few days before my wedding. No explanation, no closure, all done over a 5 minute phone call. I can’t even articulate the way it broke me mentally - it felt like something I would never be able to come back from.

I had a moment today where I finally felt like I could remember who I was before I met them. Like that version of me who is actually ME is finally being dug out from the rubble of multiple years of falling in love, being disrespected, being trauma bonded, feeling surgically attached to someone else, and then having that violently ripped away. It’s such an unbelievable feeling. I’m still not naive enough to say I will never cry again over what I went through because I don’t know that for sure. But I didn’t even realise that in the middle of my pain, my tears, my random bouts of chest tightness and inability to breathe, and my nonexistent self worth, that my biggest issue was the fact that I let myself become someone who only existed in the context of being with them. I forgot who I was or could be without them.

So I just wanted to hear your experiences and whether you went through a similar moment of sudden liberation even if you still don’t feel fully healed.. I think it’s important to emphasise that win and magnify just how far we’ve come. And I pray for continued healing and happiness for anyone who is in pain because I know it is around the corner for all of us❤️

Struggling with holding on to too much hope :(

For backstory, she ended our often turbulent five-year relationship five months ago. We had lived together for four of those years. This took place through a majority of my 20’s

I was surprised by the feeling I would get waking up in the morning and realizing again that she wouldn’t be in the bed next to me. Coming home from work to what used to be a cute, cozy place to call home, mainly thanks to her taste and contributions, now felt stripped of the parts that used to make it ours. I was reminded daily that she wasn’t coming home. This wasn’t her home any longer. This wasn’t our home anymore. This was a four-walled box that I would survive in for the remainder of our lease.

The ghost doesn’t slam doors or rearrange furniture. It just sits in the places she used to occupy and waits for me to notice.

Our precious feline boy, the one we adopted in the adolescence of our relationship, was now just my pet. We both adored him and bonded over him for years. I underestimated the pain this would cause. Yes, I know he’s just a cat, but he has been a painful reminder of what we used to be. Every time he curls into the spot on the couch that used to be hers, I have to decide whether to look away or let it hurt. He was never just a pet. I’ve realized he was the living proof that we once built something small and ordinary and good together. He still looks for her in the places she used to sit. I catch myself doing the same.

I could feel it in my bones. All of the years of routine and shared memories were reaching their conclusion. Every day from here on out would look different.

The last time I received a text from her was four months ago. She said she would let me know when she was ready and able to see me again. This was in response to me suggesting we catch up for a drink. In hindsight, it was too early, but I was cautiously optimistic. It’s been radio silence ever since. I’ve reached out a few times since then, but I’ve tried to be intentional about not hurting her further. I want her to have the space she deserves and needs.

Only recently have I noticed I’ve been blocked on one or two outlets, but not everything. Being partially blocked feels like standing in a hallway with half the lights still on. It hurts to not hear anything from her. It makes me feel so insignificant sometimes. Like maybe she never really was that serious about us. Maybe the hurtful words I would sometimes hear were true. Maybe I was a waste of time. As much as it would probably hurt, I just wish I could hear from her. Even if it were to tell me how far she’s moved on. Even if it was just to say goodbye.

That kiss we shared the last time we saw each other will sit with me for a while. The final time we were in the same place, we were standing in the doorway of our old apartment. Before I left, you ran up to me and hugged me tightly. The memory of you kissing me for the last time hurts, but I still hold it close.

It’s not the place, nor is it all of my information to divulge, but know that I am aware of the toxic behaviors that lived within the foundation of our relationship. We both caused each other undeserved pain. It’s not like it doesn’t make sense to me why we separated. What I wasn’t expecting is how I’d feel when you strip away the fighting, the miscommunication, and the anger. I sometimes wonder if there is something wrong with me. Shouldn’t I hate her? It’s not like there isn’t a laundry list of memories that would make it entirely justifiable to walk away from one another. But I didn’t. I was left with love, respect, and the failed opportunity to truly make the woman I loved feel as amazing as I think she is.

I expected bitterness to arrive like a second guest. It never did. What stayed instead was quieter and harder to live with.

This breakup has been an interesting study for me. It feels natural to compare this heartbreak to other breakups from my past. It’s been interesting to feel the lack of anger or negativity. I just really miss her. The pain I feel is the pain that she may never know just how much I care that she exists. She’s still my favorite person. Stripped of the fighting and the miscommunication, what remains is simply that I still care that she exists. I can hold the reasons it ended in one hand and the fact that I still love the person she was in the other. Both are true. Neither cancels the other out.

I’ve all but forgotten what it’s like to have her next to me. What her voice sounds like. The laughs that would pour out of her after an inside joke. The dictionary’s worth of phrases and made-up words that formed the language only we knew. No one else will ever speak it. I miss her flaws. I long for the days of waking up early on a Saturday morning just to put on a pot of coffee and cuddle up to binge-watch our favorite trashy reality TV. You once told me while we were out on a walk that I would look back and miss the little pet peeves I once had. Like when you would just stop in the middle of the road to capture the perfect sunset picture. Who knew it might be one of our last.

I miss peeling her orange. The small, unnecessary kindnesses. There are still mornings when I reach for the second mug before I catch myself. I don’t know if she hates me, misses me, or if we’ll ever see each other again. Maybe all of the above. I’ve had a lot of practice with the concept of more than one thing being true at the same time.

I’m currently five months post-breakup. Our fur baby and I reside in a cute apartment that I’ve tried to make feel like home. I’ve focused on getting back to my roots, what made me who I was when I first met her. I practice kindness and try to be careful of what I put out into the world. I’ve been spending more time with friends and putting a respectful amount of effort into my health and wellness.

I carry the loss the way some people carry a photograph in a wallet. Always there, rarely taken out, impossible to throw away.

The anxiety has evened out. I know I’ll be okay, although there are still really hard moments. My head is hardwired to not know another way other than making it through. It’s what I’ve been good at my whole life. It feels like I was made to endure. I see her when I close my eyes, and I smile through the tears. Not because it feels good, but because it still feels true. I’m not waiting for her. I’m just still learning how to stop looking for her in rooms she no longer enters, with the wish that the last time we saw each other wasn’t our last.

The porch light in my heart for her will never be off.

TLDR: No anger. Just the ghost of a five-year relationship, a cat who hasn’t forgotten her spot, and a light I can’t bring myself to switch off.

Almost 2 months since it ended. I am still in shock that he threw me and our love away like that. My heart yearns for him every day. I got a bit better at controlling my thoughts, I am semi-functional now. But I miss him so much, there is this sense of raw, deep sadness and grief in me. I know it's normal and do not tell me time will heal. I am not just feeling the loss, I feel a sense of existential grief if that makes sense. Not only feeling dissociated from life, but feeling like this was not meant to happen, and that living without him is absurd, and that no matter how old I get, or if I ever meet someone else, or if time passes, I lost this fundamental figure in my life, my friend, my love. I don't just yearn for our relationship and affection, I yearn for his soul as a human being, I suffer in a way that goes beyond our romance. I feel like I lost an arm, or a part of my own soul. I am so so sad. I do not understand how I can feel like this and he can walk away, I am so baffled by reality rn.

Going no contact after break up is something I have always agreed with. I never really had trouble with cutting my exes off. It was just natural.
We broke up, I removed/blocked them everywhere, the world kept spinning and I moved on.
This time it was different. Especially that we will be sharing environment for the next 2 years. This relationship was truly serious. We had so many beautiful memories, so many plans for the future. He was supposed to be the last one, iykyk.
After less than a year of us being together he decided to break up with me. We fought a lot, we were incompatible in many ways. Even though I thought for a while about breaking up with too, when he did this I wasn’t ready for that. I wasn’t actually ready to give up the beautiful life and future we planned together. All the memories, relationship with his family (we were super close).
I fell back to depression. I missed him. I cried so much. I wished I have done more to not lose him. I wondered - „maybe If I agreed to even more compromises and agree to everything he wanted and needed it wouldn’t happen”. Even though I have already given up so much for this man and he would never do the same for me. I’ve been sinking into depression so badly and for so long I thought I can’t live with him and seeing him for the first time since breaking up crushed me. I was at loss. Anything seemed worth being with him.

So I decided to message him.

He read the message super fast, literally after 2-3 seconds after it was sent. Conversation was really wholesome. He was really kind. Even seemed a bit interested. He suggested he could drive me to the uni and then back home next time. Talked about the scent of my perfume he could never forget. After that convo was cut, he wasn’t really starting conversation himself, I was always pretty much the one to reach out first. Talking to him was nice but something was missing? I can’t even explain it, you just feel it. There is this disconnection between you. After I realized, I stopped reaching out.
And when I did, he didn’t specifically do it himself. But he tries to catch my attention and remind me of himself all the time since then. Calling me in the middle of the night, asking random questions about uni, Sending messages and removing them right away, sending random snaps trying to get me to either be jealous, lustful of him or supportive. Like a boy who wants to be chased and get all of the attention
It really did bring me back down to earth.
My emotions went down and I could take a look at him and the past again.
There really was nothing special. Not in this relationship, not in him. If I didn’t message him maybe I would still feel like there was something I missed out on. But I did and it gave me reality check I needed. And it’s 10000x better than getting back together.
My depression is slowly going away, I’m feeling better every single day.
I’m so happy and grateful I can start over again and have the chance to meet actual man I want. But with my ex? I’d have to settle for the life I never wanted for a man who’s not even worth it. I can redirect myself in life and find out what I want and be there for me. Not what he wants and how I can adjust.

Yesterday my friend talked to my ex (we broke up 2 months ago and our relationship was of 4 years) and she said that wo itne time se bas mujhe jhel Rahi thi because she was turned off this year and she was focusing on giving me love. I was unable to let her feel vulnerable with me because I used to be very anxious whenever she used to feel bad or worst in her life. I used to blame myself that why can't I make her feel better and why is she feeling all this when I am here to make things better (ik this is so dumb and childish but I always wanted her to stay happy because she was my wife to be and I used to feel bad that I cannot make her feel happy or any better) but I really need to understand that sometimes people are allowed to feel and be vulnerable in front of their significant other and we are just required to be with them during that situation instead of blaming ourselves that why can't we make them feel better during this phase.

She left me 2 months ago when she got new friends and finally found her people, I introduced her to my friends when she had nobody. I made a few mistakes as I am a really anxious person when I am in a relationship, but I know one thing, that I am not this unloveable that you were so fed up of me and you didn't even tell me what was hurting you and what can I do to make things better. You just found your people and decided to leave me during my worst time of my life.

Yes I was insecure, yes I used to compare myself with all the men you were hanging out with because I am no better. Yes I wanted to be the one for you, the best one, that is why I used to compare, yes I wanted to marry you. I think I won't be able to trust or love someone anymore. I dedicated my entire life to you.

I know there were many negatives in our relationship but she could have told me and had a mature proper conversation with me about what's bothering her and what can I do to make it better, I know these things don't require a proper conversation but I was really willing to do everything for this. I know I am the worst man someone could ever be with, but you were everything I had and now I have nothing to lose, not even myself.

its easy for you to move on because you have a lot of friends to be with, you are beautiful and pretty. But me? I am currently on my drop year isolated in a room just preparing for an exam with no friends. Why did you do this to me when I told you I have nobody by my side??

I miss her, I wish she could see how hurt I am, I wish she could see how she changed my perspective of life. I wish she could see how changed I am now. I wish you never left. I wish to be at a better place soon.

In the end, I would just say I am sorry for being such a miserable man that dedicated his entire life to you and was working on his dreams only for you, not even himself. I gained anxiety issues and breathing issues and idk if I will ever move on.

I wish you the best. Maybe our paths collide in future.

I am sorry.

For context, we've been together for over 4 years now. We have very differing political views, she's much more emotional whenever we've talked about politics. Along with that, we tend to argue quite often. I'll admit, I'm not perfect. There's many times where I've gotten her upset or fired up, but I try my best to be a good partner to her. Another issue is my friends, they don't really like her (they thought she was too disrespectful and rude towards me) and have stated that later in our relationship and she doesn't like them at this point either. It's been hard for me to accept for a while but I eventually did. She's got anger issues and I've been trying to be good with dealing with that but it feels very draining. It just seems like for the last year or two that we go back and forth on a lot, almost like I say black, she says white. Honestly, I'm not really sure if it'll work out. I love her, but I can't ignore how I feel. I also don't want to resent her over these feelings and vice versa. What should I do?

Does anyone else struggle with overthinking of every small regret or little thing you wish you did better in the relationship, even if they weren’t cited as a reason for it? My partner blindsided me after five years together. My mind automatically goes to every minor thing I regret. The things I’m talking about weren’t mentioned during the breakup. I’m talking about really small incidents over the years but I can’t help but think of it all.

My mother said something that did help. She said that nobody is perfect and your partner knows there are things about you they may not love, but they choose to accept it as part of your personality because they love you.

Edit to add this is absolutely NOT about anything like infidelity, lying, abuse, etc.

So we had been friends for a few years before we started liking each other, 2 months within saying I like you he started calling me wifey and gifted me expensive bag for birthday but due to back and forth we broke up, he still flirted with me told me he loved me, but when my birthday was around he didn’t do anything at the same time told me he wanted to visit me, and now he says he has lost feelings, while telling me he wants to give it a try again, earlier he couldn’t go a few mins without talking, now he doesn’t care if we don’t talk for days or weeks

I wanted to make this post cause recently I had someone comment on a post I made last year when I was going through all this and it took me back to realise its been a year and just wanted to make one of these posts that used to help me so much back then to let anyone reading this know it gets so much better.

A year ago I went through a super messy and emotional complex breakup with my ex, getting dumped on the reasoning of depression and a year later I promise you all it gets so much better if you follow the right steps. A year later I'm in a much happier and healthier relationship with someone amazing and feel emotionally apathetic to my ex and have grown so much as a person, so trust me however you're feeling right now, whatever step you're on of your healing journey one day when you're all over it I'm sure you'll be like me getting a comment on a post you made that you forgot about and telling them how it'll all be okay too.

2 months ago we 36f and 36m broke up. After almost 2 years. He asked me not to call or text him ever again and so I have not.

Tonight I wished his dad happy birthday! We had a nice, short conversation and the dad asked how I am. I was caught off guard by that, I expected just a “thanks” if anything.

Now I’m worried my ex would be mad? Am I out of line to speak to my ex’s family?

As a chronically overanalytical brain owner, I am really struggling to reconcile this new reality.

First there was a shift during the relationship. I felt it happen, and kept trying too hard to fix it. That made him paranoid and angry, and it ended very badly.

He blocked me so I can never contact him, and yet he’s still in my life because we share work. He requested a restriction that we’re not allowed to speak. He won’t even make eye contact with me. We can only interact through group chat and he barely acknowledges my questions. I have to get my boss to intervene.

I can’t make sense of it. When I look at him, I see this person I used to be so intimately close to who now treats me like a stranger... or worse, an enemy. I both continue to love him and fear him.

It’s not just that I’m grieving our shared life and routines, or who he used to be. My brain literally cannot make sense of this reality shift.

Some days I feel angry at myself because if he hates me this much, I must’ve been horrible to him. Other days I feel angry at him because how could anyone treat me like that for loving “too much”? It does not compute.

I don’t usually connect with people, he was the first I trusted in a very long time and he knew that. I knew his deepest wounds too. And I think in the end we both reenacted them for each other. I triggered his worst nightmare and he triggered mine. But he’s walked away as if I’m the only one at fault, and I can’t process how he can have cared before and not care now. I do.

Accepting this feels like accepting an impossible false narrative: that I now have to coexist with someone who is both intimately familiar and a total stranger.

Was wondering if anyone has reached out to their ex after years have gone by? If so, why and what happened?

So I was in jail for a year, and my ex was thru most of it with me. She would send me packages, she even told me she would wait. for me. it seemed like I was good with her. then 8 months into the sentence she told me she slept with someone and it hurt. being in jail I couldn't do anything. then another 4 months go by she tells me that she has moved on and that I'm not good for her. she says she's talking to someone. then I get out not hoping to see her. she comes to my house, she hugs me and looks genuinely happy to see me, tells me she misses me, we even had sex. the next day, all she blocks me and ghosts me. and I asked for an explanation, and nothing. she calls me a week later in a private number asking to come see me and I'm nah. and then asked if she's seeing someone she says nah. then I don't hear from her for another 2 months meanwhile I'm dodging her blocks asking for a explanation. until I give up and try to move on. she then calls me again, but I didn't answer she messaged me that she wants to see me tomorrow. I said yes, (dumbass) she texts me the next day to fuck off and that she wasn't thinking right.i don't hear from her again then I see he Instagram profile pic and there is a guy with her.. this gets a toll on my emotional well-being I started asking nicely for an explanation to begging her to threatening her, for one she now has a restraining order on me. I don't what to do. I can't stop thinking about her and felt like she played with my emotions. am I the only psycho that feels this way?

My ex and I broke up in March 2025, and lately I’ve been thinking more seriously about reaching out to him. I’m trying to figure out whether it’s worth opening that door again or whether I’m better off leaving things in the past. When we were together, I eventually started feeling invisible in the relationship, almost like we were glorified roommates instead of partners. I was struggling with my own emotions at the time, and the relationship ended pretty abruptly. Looking back, there are things I wish I had handled differently, and I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on the relationship and myself since then. Over the past year and a half, I’ve grown a lot as a person. I feel like I’m in a much better place now, and I’ve learned a lot about myself, what I need in a relationship, and what I’m no longer willing to settle for. Despite everything that happened, I still think about him. He wasn’t just my boyfriend; he was my best friend. Going from having someone be such a big part of your everyday life to not speaking to them at all is a strange feeling, especially when that person once meant so much to you. Part of me wants to reach out simply because there are things I’d like to say. I want him to know that I did love and appreciate him, even if I didn’t always express it the way I should have. I wish I could have a conversation with him, hear how he’s doing, and see where we both are in life now