I recently caught up with a friend. She told me a story which I keep on thinking about... Her mum attended a 30 year high school reunion.
Towards the end of the evening a guy came up to her and asked her if she was such and such, X Maiden Name. She said she was.
He then proceeded to tell her than 30 years ago he was madly in love with her from afar, but never mustered the courage to ask her. He was planning to ask her to go to prom with him, but again, was too afraid to come and talk to her (they were in different classes) and so never got to do it. So after the graduation he never saw her again until the reunion.
He then said that he also got married and had kids, but every day for the past 30 years he had been waking up regretting never speaking to friend's mum and imagining how his life would be different if he was braver, and how he pretty much had been miserable and unhappy waking up next to a woman he didnt love every morning. For 30 years.
And then he walked away.
At first we both thought awww, so romantic, to have someone who would love you so much even if they didnt really know wach other. But then I thought it's so sad that this man has spent the last 30 years pretty much regretting not speakign to someone that maybe/possibly would not be the right match, and how sad for his family to always be 'second best'...