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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:
TBDO · 23/02/2019 09:58

You’re better than this. Block him and work out why you’ve invested in someone who just isn’t into you.

You will look back and cringe if you send any message now, you’ll come across as so needy that you want to pursue a relationship with a man that can’t be bothered to message you.

Sorry to be harsh but I think you need yo stop and hear it.

Chilli21 · 23/02/2019 09:58

Did you meet him OLD? If yes, have you checked if he is still OLD?

How much do you really know about him?

Loopytiles · 23/02/2019 10:01

Shore up your self respect and don’t contact him.

You hardly know him and had two dates.

Merchantgirl · 23/02/2019 10:03

Don’t send a message!! Honestly it never does anygood-if he was really keen he’d be making dates with you. You feel the way you do because he’s told you what you want to hear and you’ve had a taster of falling for him but look at what he does not what he says. Took me years to believe this but it’s so true, sending that message won’t change anything apart from making you feel crap.

ShinyYellow · 23/02/2019 10:04

Chilli yes, met him OLD. I haven't seen him on any apps since.

OP posts:
poppingoff · 23/02/2019 10:04

And what was the problems he had with his ex, that he gave as a reason for his behaviour first time round?

ShinyYellow · 23/02/2019 10:07

Dammit you're all so right! Suppose I had my friend last night telling me to 'make myself vulnerable' and thought this might be a good idea. I think he's made his feeling a (or lack thereof) pretty clear. I think the points about not really knowing him are the most salient. Thanks for letting me be an idiot here!

OP posts:
bigsister951 · 23/02/2019 10:07

Here’s one but send it to yourself instead.

This man is not right or me. If he was interested he would have been in touch. The end.

ShinyYellow · 23/02/2019 10:08

I think found out she was pregnant after they split up (didn't keep it) which he said he found hard. It coincided with the period after we met.

OP posts:
Loopytiles · 23/02/2019 10:11

Your friend could similarly do with MN.

ShinyYellow · 23/02/2019 10:17

Loopy yes probably! I'm usually the one giving her similar advice to on here- if a man is interested, he will let you know etc.
Thought she might have a point last night but I'm quite glad I didn't text.

Now i just need to get over someone I don't even really know! Should be easy, right?!

OP posts:
Moralitym1n1 · 23/02/2019 10:17

I would just like a 'yes' or a 'no' so I can move on accordingly.

His radio silence, flakiness, and lack of making & sticking to another 'date' IS your no.

Have you ever read 'hes just not that into you' - truly excellent book with an unfortunately cheesy title.

Moralitym1n1 · 23/02/2019 10:20

I wouldn't take relationship advice from that particular friend incidentally.

Moralitym1n1 · 23/02/2019 10:24

No doubt all the serious, destabilising, stressful things happening in his life recently are a factor, but the outcome is exactly the same-sex he's not able to offer a reasonable relationship.

another20 · 23/02/2019 10:24

The connection you felt wasn’t real - he live bombed you - it was intense for 2 days etc - but highly manipulative and dominant from his end to get what he wanted. Ignore his words (even the death, suicide, pregnancy, abortion sounds either exaggerated, OTT, made up - or even dramatic not appropriate to share all at once) - used that as an excuse to hoover you back in.

another20 · 23/02/2019 10:25

*love bombed

NabooThatsWho · 23/02/2019 10:30

Don’t waste your energy. He won’t care.

Do something positive that will make you feel good about yourself instead.

ShinyYellow · 23/02/2019 10:32

another20 sounds like a good point.

i just think 'why?' for the sake of a shag? He's an attractive man and I'm sure could've picked up someone with a lot less angsting. It seems so much input from him just to leave it there. I'm not hopelessly naive and fully understand that some men will say almost anything for a chance of sex but to fake such a connection and go into all these upsetting (for him) details on a night out seems so odd.

OP posts:
Moralitym1n1 · 23/02/2019 10:33

Have no idea where that sex typo came from

Moralitym1n1 · 23/02/2019 10:38

Shiny - it has never failed to amaze me what some people will say/do so that they appear (and can feel) like a good person (his excuses) and also for validation (getting off with you). Sex is often secondary.

shinyNewPound · 23/02/2019 10:40

The sex typo made me laugh!

If you text him, do you really expect he will behave differently than he has for a whole year? You'll just be opening the door for more of the same - intense 2 days of (empty) words about relationships etc and then sporadic texting. You'll be in the same position you are in now a few weeks on.

Kick this one to the curb now and save yourself a few weeks of wondering wtf is going on with him.

CoralandTeal · 23/02/2019 10:43

He sounds unstable - stay away from him!!

HollowTalk · 23/02/2019 10:47

The thing is that someone can't be the one for you unless they think you're the one for them, otherwise it's no different from being starstruck on an actor or musician.

I think what's happened is that you're not mixing with enough men, so you think this man is better than he actually is. He's actually really crap. I would block him - so you're taking control of the situation rather than relying on scraps from him - and I'd do my best to meet other men and also to mix with men who are really decent so that you can compare.

ShinyYellow · 23/02/2019 10:51

The typo made me smile too!

Morality you're right. I suppose he'd had a drink as well (not totally drunk or anything) which perhaps helped with his creativity the night in the bar making up excuses.

If I am brutally honest with myself I think stubborn pride is playing a big part here in keeping me hooked. He's on paper everything I want: clever, excellent job in a field that really interests me, affectionate (well, when he's felt like it), attractive, a bit geeky, comes from a particular culture that means a lot to me. This leaves me wondering why I'm not good enough for a relationship with him where other women have been. Argh. It's nuts, I know!

OP posts:
ImNotKitten · 23/02/2019 11:01

Hollow is spot on. I mean this kindly OP but you really don’t know him after the amount of contact you’ve had and you’re building him up to be better than he really is. Over investing too soon. Meet some other men and you’ll see how different it can be, and how rubbish it is with him.

The fact he’s had relationships with other people but not you doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you, but it does mean he isn’t into you. Keep your dignity and leave it be now.

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