Anonymous wrote:if i'm honest with myself i still do. and i'm the one who left and rejected any proposal for reconciliation. but if i am honest, i think i still do love him and in a way always will.
When I think about the people we were when we were young and in love, I miss that friend.
Unfortunately, when times got tough I learned about a side to his personality that is really disgusting. Lying, cheating, stealing, mean to kid, just awful.
Kind of like an Uncle or brother who, as time goes by, you realize that deep down they are a terribly troubled person and you can't trust them or help them. You wouldn't give them the keys to your house or loan them your car or money. You'll always love them as family but, you've learned your lesson and now have to set very firm boundaries and to the degree possible, wash your hands of responsibility for helping them.
I'll always be sad that things turned out the way they did for us. But I am just grateful I got out of the marriage with somewhat minimized damages. I look at the woman he's with now and think, "better her than me". But then get choked up because I miss my love of 20 years ago.