Hi all, I'm brand new here so be gentle with me!
I have done a fair bit of reading of other topics here and I must say it's lovely to see so many people trying to help each other and support each other!
So what's my story?.....well...long post coming up...
I'm 41 and live in the UK. My ex is 29 this year, (yes an age gap relationship, something I know she found hard at times). We were together six years and had talked about buying a place together and having kids etc. Neither of us is into the idea of marriage, it's a great thing but just not for us.
The thing is about two years ago she sat me down and, well what she meant to say was "I love you and I want to stay with you, but there's these issues which I think we have to deal with before I can say that for sure". However, what came accross to me was, "I don't know if I'm going to stay with you I might be leaving you soon". It was a mixture of her not explaining it right and me just not understanding.
Anyway, this got worse and worse (with great lovely times in between), until it became a pressure thing from me to her forcing her to make a decision about whether she was staying or going! After all I thought, if I'm going to have kids with someone I need to to know they are going to stick around! She thought I didn't want kids at all and I thought she didn't want them with me, when actually we both wanted the same thing!
So about two and a half months ago she finally had enough and told me that she was leaving me. I was just gutted. She moved out a couple of weeks later and got a place of her own. we kept in touch (I didn't call her I just let her call me, which she did), and I saw her a few times.
Now comes the hardest bit. I knew that there was this guy that liked her at work. He has liked her for a long time and we used to talk about him sometimes as I knew him too. She used to say what a nightmare he was to women and how he thought of no-one but himself and thought he was God's gift to women, you know the type I'm sure. I mean i really don't have to exagerate here I can just tell you the truth, he always has at least two or three women on the go at any one time, he lies to them all and managed to get one of them pregnant before walking away. Lovely fella, huh?
I think you can guess what's coming next? That's right, she started seeing this guy! I mean not really "seeing" him, but seeing rather more of him than I'd like if you get the idea!
True to form, once his "mission" was accomplished she hasn't heard from him since and was really hurt by it. It seems she did have some feelings for the guy. I know that it wouldn't have worked out anyway and that it was a totally typical rebound relationship thing...he was the total opposite of me and the whole thing just happened way way to fast to make any sense! But still she got hurt.
So anyway, we have been seeing each other more and more and getting on very well. I have told her that I would like us to get back together again in the future if she wants to. I have said that I understand why she left and support her decision. I have said that I will NEVER pressure her in any way on this and that I am NOT asking her to make a decision. The ball is totally in her court. I have made sure that I am always looking, smelling and feeling good when she sees me. I am making myself more attractive to her, instead of begging her or pressuring her! All the folks here are right, that never works, only drives them further away!
A week and a half ago we went out for the day and had a wonderful time. We talked a lot about us as well as other things and she seemed quite receptive to the idea of keeping an open mind about the possibility of getting back together again in the future. Later when I dropped her off at her place, I suggested we have a break in contact for a month. She seemd a bit upset by the thought of this I think and wanted to find out why I wanted to do it. I said that as I had said so much to her i thought she should have some time and space in which to think about it, and also that I needed some time for me. She said things like "well I guess it will go quick" and "we don't have to stick to exactly a month do we"? Her manner toward me seemed to change. She hugged me goodbye and even kissed me on the lips when we said goodbye. She seemed sad.
So it's now been a week and a half and it's driving me mad! I know I won't give in but I am missing her so much. Of course if I cave in now, I will undo all the good work being done! How do I know that any good work is being done? Well, her mother called me at the weekend and said that my ex's car had broken down and I had the number of our mechanic. My ex had refused to call me because of our agreement. Her mother told me that she is missing me and seems stressed, distracted and confused about what to do. Her mother wants us to get back together and does think that there is a chance, but of course it's all down to my ex.
My plan? Sit tight until the times is up. Wait for her to call me - she will if she wants me - and then pick it up from there. I'll be her friend again and show her the changes in me. I hope that she will have a change of heart and decide to start again with me. It seems that the grass is NOT always greener on the other side of the fence after all!
Wish me luck folks! I could use some!!
Big Bean x