I dated this girl literally a quarter century ago for several years, lived with her and was (sorta) engaged at one time. We were both young and it just didn't work out. Not a bad break up, mutual and we went our own ways. Well through the magic of Facebook I got reacquainted with her and to be honest probably almost a dozen others. I grew up in a small town and everybody knows everybody, so it's not as weird as it may sound at first. She called me today and we talked for over an hour. She brought something to my attention that made me really sit up and think. She wondered how people could say they loved each other then say they hate each other later. I often wondered that too. Then she told me she still loved me and knew I loved her too. (Which is true) I had a similar conversation with the first real love of my life a year or two earlier. It made me feel good that women I dated so long ago still cared about me. We broke up (both girls same thing) because I was just too young to handle the situation. Not prepared and immature, no good job and just doggy paddling in life basically. She was in the same boat, she was homesick and had moved with me 70 miles away from home because I got a promotion and we thought we could handle living together. If life had dealt slightly different cards I would probably still be with her. I was ok letting her go just as I was ok with the first love of my life, because I just wanted them both to be happy. The first time I did that I was 17 years old and it is still to this day the hardest thing I ever did. The second time I was older and it was easier but no fun for sure. This one that called today wanted to let me know she was on vacation soon and would like to see me, I told her I didn't think I could. I have really great memories of her and want to keep things less complicated for now, but damn. Another tough call.
Sometimes the little decisions make such a big difference. If you feel you made the right decision, you did. Cool lil story