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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Please can you help me draft one last message?

69 replies

ShinyYellow · 23/02/2019 08:56

Morning everyone,

I am hoping for some help please in putting together one last text to a man I have met and like a lot but who is giving me mixed messages. I want to make it clear I am interested and lightheartedly ask him to clarify said mixed messages.

In short, we met online, had an amazing date that lasted 2 days (didn't DTD), chatted enthusiastically for a couple of weeks, partly arranged a date (not the exact day as he changed it due to work but the place and the weekend). He then disappeared on me, he never ghosted exactly, as I initiated contact once or twice and he would reply, but would only get one message in return rather than entering into conversation. It was clear he was not engaged so I let it go.

I was disappointed but chalked it up to experience and kept on with the OLD. I didn't forget him though.

Around a year later, we bumped into each other at a bar. I was polite but circumspect at first and called him out on ghosting me. He was extremely apologetic and said that he had liked me a lot, still thought a lot about me (he had actually sent me a 'Merry Christmas' text) but had had a horrible year including losing his dad very soon after we met to whom he was very close, had been diagnosed with depression and experienced suicidal episodes, problems at work and with an ex so was not in a position to start a relationship.

We got talking as he was very keen to spend time with me and ended up spending the night and next day together and got on really well again. He talked about how he wanted a family and a relationship and i was everything he wanted, how well we got on and how attractive he found me.

That was 2 weeks ago. I left the ball in his court after last time and contact has been very sporadic although he did say he really wanted to see me but has not asked me out.

I know the advice will likely to leave it and move on, usually my advice would be that if a man is interested, he is more than capable of arranging to see me. I just can't forget this guy though, we really got on well and I haven't felt such a connection in over a year of dating.

My go-to attitude is usually to flirt or make a joke if I am unsure what to do with a man (in any area of life i deal with hard situations by joking) as to be honest i feel embarrassed to admit i have feelings and put them out there but this time i don't want to do that. I want to let him know I like him and ask whether everything he said about liking me was just to try and get a shag or said in the heat of the moment. It was a lot to say if it was just sweet talk.

Basically although we haven't spent much time together and I have tried hard to forget him, I do have feelings for this man and just want to try once to see if he actually has any interest. I get that his actions are saying 'no' but i wonder whether it's the horrible year he's had still affecting him.

I would be really thankful for any advice on how to word this in a message.

So sorry for the essay, I know it's a lot for a man I have met twice, this is just bothering me a lot and it's helped to lay it out in writing!!

OP posts:
ShinyYellow · 23/02/2019 08:58

Just to be clear, when we met in the bar, it was him keen to talk to and hang out with me, not me chasing him!

OP posts:
bibbitybobbityyhat · 23/02/2019 09:01

Please don't! There's someone better out there for you.

user14869556378 · 23/02/2019 09:02

'It was great bumping into you again. I'm glad things with you are better now. Would you like to catch up for a drink and start off from where we stopped last year?'

Or is that suggesting possible sex??

Crowdo · 23/02/2019 09:03

Never chase. Ever.

NotTheFordType · 23/02/2019 09:06

I do have feelings for this man

You've had two dates with him. It's really not possible to develop any feelings apart from wishfulness about him.

Have a read of this
www.doctornerdlove.com/protect-yourself-from-a-broken-heart/

MorrisZapp · 23/02/2019 09:07

No no no no no. Just no. I'm sorry, but no. Don't contact him. He's had two chances to make a connection with you and both times he's walked away.

poppingoff · 23/02/2019 09:08

No way. If this guy meant any of what he said, then the onus is on him to prove it and make you feel he's worth a second chance.

Roxyxoxo · 23/02/2019 09:10

He wanted sex most likely, his actions since have shown he isn’t very bothered; although not nice you need to try and be honest with yourself- you deserve better.

Cookmysock1 · 23/02/2019 09:12

You would know if he had any interest, he would show it, please don't contact him, you've had a lucky escape, move on

EatToTheBeet · 23/02/2019 09:12

What are you saying to each other in the sporadic contact?

It might all be true, about the dad and the work and the suicidal thoughts . But in that case, if he’s telling the truth, then he doesn’t want a relationship. He has told you that.

I don’t think waiting for him to ask is the solution here.

You can either
A) leave it. He’s told you he doesn’t want a relationship
B) put your cards on the table. Tell him you feel a connection that you haven’t felt with anyone else etc.

ShinyYellow · 23/02/2019 09:28

Thanks everyone, I really do get it. It's just hard to reconcile the things he was saying about how much he felt a connection with and wanted a relationship with me with this almost radio silence and to be honest I would just like a 'yes' or a 'no' so I can move on accordingly. I understand he doesn't owe me that though.

Notthefordtype that was really pertinent, thank you. I would consider myself quite experienced etc, just somehow this man has got under my (usually rhino- like) skin!

eattothebeet we had a chat after a few days about a short trip i went on. He said he would really like to see me, I let him know when I was getting home then nothing other than a brief Valentine's message.

OP posts:
Wellfuckmeinbothears · 23/02/2019 09:34

Honestly just leave it. Don’t bother with a last text, you hardly know him so any feelings you think you may have for him aren’t real. Just block him and move on.

poppingoff · 23/02/2019 09:38

then nothing other than a brief Valentine's message

So no contact in the last nine days?

I'd really just write this one off, OP.

SandyY2K · 23/02/2019 09:39

This isn't what you want to hear, but if he was interested and ready for a relationship he would turn that into action.

You could (although) I wouldn't, send a message saying he mentioned wanting a relationship, but you haven't heard from him in that regard.... and if you don't hear from him by X date, you'll assume he's not ready.

Then... after the date has passed, I would block him. It really shouldn't be this hard so early... that's not a good sign.

My real advice would be to give it a week without saying anything, then block him and move on.

ShinyYellow · 23/02/2019 09:40

poppingoff yep exactly. Feels like I need to suck it up and keep trying to forget him.

OP posts:
ShinyYellow · 23/02/2019 09:45

Sandy yeah exactly, if someone is keen theres no reason they can't act on it.

I'm just a bit annoyed and confused as to why he pursued me and went on at such length about liking me so much and being so sorry for disappearing instead of just leaving it when we bumped into each other. It didn't feel as though it was just for sex but quite probably was.

OP posts:
poppingoff · 23/02/2019 09:46

He was keeping his options open.

ShinyYellow · 23/02/2019 09:49

Just realised I've worded the OP badly.

I mean he told me when we met for the second time that at the time of the first date, he wasn't in a position for a relationship due to all the problems. However, at the time of the second, he was now in a better position for a relationship.

OP posts:
E20mom · 23/02/2019 09:50

Please don't message him.

ScreamingValenta · 23/02/2019 09:51

If he wanted a relationship with you, he wouldn't have ignored you for nine days.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 23/02/2019 09:52

Do not message him further. It will only cause you more emotional pain.

Hollowvictory · 23/02/2019 09:53

A suicidal depressive is not a catch.all this angst! Do yourself a favour, block him and fine someone who has robust mental health and will be FUN this all sounds like no fun whatsoever!

Bouledeneige · 23/02/2019 09:54

Leave it, don't bother with the text. Its a complete waste of time. He is not worth giving another thought to. He hasn't given another thought to you. Block and forget.

Closure is in the movies. And prodding him to see you again? He'll do it all over again.

JenniferJareau · 23/02/2019 09:56

You've been played. He wanted sex on the first date, you didn't have sex do he moved on. Second date he got the sex he wanted and told you a nice tale of exactly what you wanted to hear but all he wanted was the sex hence the spotty messages.

Sorry Flowers

ooooohbetty · 23/02/2019 09:56

Don't send him a message. He's not interested. His silence/sporadic contact is telling you he's not interested. If he wanted to see you/have a relationship with you he'd have been in contact. Leave it.