My ex (21F) and I (23M) were together for almost 5 months. I know that isn’t an incredibly long relationship, but it was very intense and meaningful to both of us (I hope). I was her first boyfriend, her first serious relationship, and her first sexual partner.
We both started dating eachother with the intention of pursuing a serious lifelong relationship, culminating in marriage and children.
The difficult part is that our relationship was genuinely really good when we were physically together. We didn’t have cheating, toxicity, constant fighting, or anything like that. We were extremely affectionate, went on dates constantly, talked about our future, marriage eventually, traveling together, etc... She told me I was her "Prince Charming".
Unfortunately, political circumstances required her to leave the US to go back to our country (She was an international student, while I am a dual citizen of both the US and our country.)
Her entire life changed at basically the same time. She lost the future she thought she was going to have here, had to restart college in another major, and her dream career that was she was pursuing was practically over. She was extremely emotional about all of this, and struggled heavily over it. We had many talks about it when she was here, and also when she was in our country.
Our relationship basically nosedived within about 5 weeks of her leaving.
She told me that she loved me and loved our relationship, but that long distance had changed everything and was “killing her.” Again, I also didn't want our relationship to "kill her". She even said that if we were still physically together, things would probably be completely different.
I wanted to keep trying. I was planning a trip to see her, and long-term I had told her I was willing to compromise on where we lived so she could pursue her dream. I told her that if her career eventually took her to somewhere like New York, I would be willing to build my future around that too. I would be willing to help support those dreams financially also. So if she needed ant further courses, education, etc... I'd be more than willing to help her. I'm on the verge of a landing a great salary, so I'd have the financial means doing so comfortably. When she felt hopeless about her career, I was always the person telling her not to give up and that we would find a way.
During the breakup I told her that I wanted to stay, but I wasn’t going to beg someone to choose me. I also told her that my conscience was clear because I genuinely felt I had done everything I could for the relationship.
I didn’t cry or beg during the breakup. I stayed pretty composed, although since then I’ve cried harder than I have in years.
She wanted to maintain contact afterward, but I told her I couldn’t do that. I explained that no contact wasn’t punishment. I needed it to protect myself because I still loved her and couldn’t immediately pretend to be her friend while still being madly in love with her.
Today is now day 5 of no contact.
I am doubting everything I did during the breakup and right before. Everything comes and goes in waves. Sometimes I am bawling my eyes out (full ugly crying), other times I am despondent in bed, and sometimes I am even angry.
Does it ever get better? I feel like I lost the love of my love. Rationally, I know that that isn't so, but still I feel like my life is ending.
My family and friends think she may have already been leaning toward breaking up and was trying to find reasons/excuses for it. I don’t know if I agree completely because I genuinely believe the enormous upheaval in her life and the long distance affected her badly. I have a lot of compassion for what she was going through. But maybe it's true! there are some things that made me think that its possible.
I still love her. I still miss her like crazy. Part of me desperately hopes she eventually regrets ending things and comes back wanting to really try again
So I guess my questions are:
Did I handle the breakup/no contact reasonably?
Does this sound like a relationship that genuinely collapsed because of circumstances, or does it sound like she was already checking out?
And if someone came back after a breakup like this, would you personally consider giving them a second chance?
I’d especially appreciate perspectives from people who have been on either side of a breakup where you still loved each other but long distance/life circumstances became too much.
Thank you everyone.