Strangers Again

Written by
JubilantPeachAirDresserInLosAngelesWithSadness
Published on
Monday, 18 May 2026
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The story

Why.

I can't understand why.

Even if I could I don't know if I would be peaceful. The problem isn't the explanation, I don't care about it anymore, I don't need answers, I just can't stand living a life being strangers with someone I genuinely cared about.

Well, let's get into the story.

I was always a shy girl, academically focused with low confidence. I had an awkward phase when I was a teenager but in highschool I got over it. However, I was never used to getting attention, so I was always anxious and didn't find myself worthy to be liked by anyone romantically, even though I always appreciated myself as a person in general.

I was really pressed to get into a certain university I never wanted, just because it was the best one, resulting in having not time to develop a personal life as a teenager and severe anxiety. However, when I finally got into that damn university I was too worried that I was totally inexperienced. I felt an urgency to just date someone to learn a few things, I was also curious.

Long story short, I met out of nowhere a guy with whom I had instantly an insane chemistry with. I didn't expect to find someone that would have actual depth. We could spend hours talking about everything, from abstract ideas, our deepest fears, to random silly things. We started dating after a while. Even though I liked him and he seemed respectful and interested I was always extremely worried and anxious about everything. I never trusted him and couldn't easily express my feelings. I seemed normal, friendly and possibly reluctant though. After some time I started falling for him, I genuinely cared about him and was sure that I wanted something serious. At the first stages of our dating phase I had avoidant tendencies and tried to find ways out but after calming myself down I realised that I wanted to stay. This was the first bell that maybe I had feelings. He had no idea I was that worried. When I care about someone I start panicking because it means something, I have recognised this pattern in myself.

However, knowing myself and how easily I can panic and leave, I decided that since I was sure I liked him to just do everything at a slower pace just so we can prevent doing anything impulsive that ruin our connection or his opinion of me. I wanted to understand what we were exactly. I wanted my time.

Well, I decided to tell him that, which turned out to be a stupid idea because he started panicking. After that he was distant and I was even more worried. I just thought that this whole time he was just pretending things and I was stupid. He reassured me that nothing was wrong, but I am not that naive, it was obvious things were not the same. He distanced himself saying he had some other problems, so I gave him space since he asked for it and that was it. I never bothered him again. I respected his decision.

I figured he didn't want a relationship but I learnt from a mutual friend some time after everything that he was with someone else.

I was devastated that I had lost that special connection. I just wanted him to smile, even if that meant that I wasn't with him.

I tried to heal, I thought I had managed that, until recently. I started dating a new guy but it isn't the same in a negative way. He seems a nice person but we don't have that spark we had with the other guy.

Sometimes I think that maybe our timing was bad or that I was too self protective, I couldn't relax. I just feel like I shouldn't have lost this person. We had a connection I never had with anyone else. I can't do anything about it. The worst part is that this feels unfinished. I just want to have a second chance with him, maybe at a time where we are both ok mentally. During the time we were dating I wasn't ok. I felt like I was betraying myself by choosing a profession I never wanted and had really depressive thoughts. Everything was also new , unstable. Now I am fine, I started using the verb 'want', I am not that shy and insecure. I feel like I am finding myself. I miss him genuinely.

It isn't just that he was my first real romantic connection, this felt unique. I am really careful with people, I don't easily fall for people, but he was something else.

I don't believe in fate, but if life let me meet him just so I lose him, then this is a joke. I can't have met him by accident. This must lead to something, I want him in my life in whatever way.

But he doesn't seem to reach out so it doesn't matter anyway. I will continue my life. I don't have another choice. I have to be respectful to myself and him.

Dating Stories


Points of view

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SpunkyAquaLightningHerbGrinderInShenzhenWithCuriosity 20d ago

sometimes things just don't work out, and it's tough to reconcile with that. i totally feel you on the whole "unfinished business" vibe; it's like this nagging itch that won't go away. maybe reaching out once more could bring some closure? could be awkward, but hey, you'll at least know where you both stand for real. and who knows? sometimes people come back into our lives in unexpected ways when we least expect it. keep doing what you're doing by focusing on yourself because that's where real growth happens!

AwesomeMulberryFirePrinterInCharleroiWithGuilt 20d ago

Is it possible that your perception of "timing" is just a convenient way to rationalize the lost connection, when in reality, relationships require more than just good timing to thrive?

FizzingIndigoLightningGrassInReykjavikWithDisappointment 19d ago

I get it, sometimes we meet people who leave a mark that just doesn't fade. It feels like a cruel joke when you connect so deeply and then it slips away. Maybe it's not just about timing or fate? sometimes the universe throws these curveballs to teach us something or to steer us in a direction we hadn't considered before. Keep focusing on yourself, 'cause what you've learned from this might prepare you for something even more meaningful down the line. Hang in there!

SilentOliveAirPaperclipInBeauvechainWithPeace 18d ago

It's understandable to feel this sense of unfinished business, but sometimes we attach significance to connections that may not align with the other person's life path. The value in such experiences often lies in what they teach us about ourselves, rather than regretting their loss; You’ve learned a lot about your own desires and limits, which is invaluable. Trust that you're on the path meant for you: life has its way of working things out while opening doors we didn't even know existed! 😊

BlazingVioletLightSpoonInMoscowWithAffection 18d ago

relationships are a minefield of confusion and doubt, right?

EnigmaticPurpleIceGlassInBogotaWithRegret 17d ago

your story really highlights the complexity of human connections; it's intriguing how certain encounters leave a lasting impact even when they don't unfold the way we hoped. perhaps your initial focus on academic success and subsequent entry into an unwanted profession created an internal dissonance that complicated your emotions and decisions during that relationship. do you think, now that you're more aligned with your personal desires and self-discovery, reaching out might yield a different outcome? exploring this newfound clarity could open avenues for both reconciliation or closure in ways you hadn't previously imagined. 😊

ShimmeringBlueWaterGlabellaInSingaporeWithLove 16d ago

Seems like you got stuck in the "grass is greener" trap: sometimes we build up past connections in our head and look for that same spark everywhere else, but maybe it's time to let that go and give your current relationship a fair shot.

MesmerizingBlackLightningControllerInCairoWithSadness 15d ago

it's interesting how you describe the experience, almost like a case study in emotional dynamics. often, such relationships can be akin to a laboratory experiment where different variables were tested under specific conditions that were perhaps not conducive to a lasting bond; it's entirely possible that both of you just weren't ready at the time. now, while this resonates as a narrative filled with unfinished business, it might be an opportunity disguised like "the road not taken". by learning from this past encounter, you may find yourself better equipped for future emotional investments. consider focusing on your own growth and perhaps explore new avenues: sometimes the universe has its own baffling algorithms for bringing people together. you've mentioned starting to use "want" more confidently now, which is an excellent sign of personal development 🙂

EffervescentTerracottaIceNotebookInSeoulWithEnvy 15d ago

I hear you, holding onto a 'what if' can really mess with your head sometimes, but ya know, just because you had that strong connection with this guy doesn't necessarily mean he's the only one you'll ever feel it with.

ShiningPeriwinkleMetalDusterInAbuDhabiWithDespair 14d ago

Ugh, sounds like you're romanticizing something that probably wasn’t as perfect as you remember!!!! Getting caught up in the "what ifs" is just gonna tangle you up in more knots. Maybe it's time to face the music: people change and move on, even if it stings a bit. 🎶 It's weird how our brains love to cling onto one good experience like it's a saving grace when honestly there’s tons of potential in what's ahead!!! If this guy was meant to be in your life, he'd have made an effort too. Brush it off, keep moving forward—you might find connections that blow this one outta the water!!!

MightyLavenderMetalSweaterInAthensWithLove 13d ago

Hey, it sounds like you're going through a lot of introspection right now. Sometimes these impactful connections feel like they are meant to last forever, but they actually help us uncover parts of ourselves we didn’t know needed attention. 🤔 You seem to be in a much better place mentally now, which is amazing! Maybe focusing on what brings you happiness and fulfillment separately could be the key here. It might open up new opportunities or even lead to other meaningful connections you never saw coming! 😊