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Thinking "what if"

15 replies

silverpillows · 04/01/2020 22:26

I think I’ve already made up my mind so I’m not sure why I’m actually posting really, maybe just for some advice or a kick up the ass.

I met a man on OLD in the middle of 2017. We hit it off instantly and chatted for weeks before actually meeting. When we did finally meet, we spoke for hours and there was obviously a mutual attraction. It was great and just so effortless. He was such a caring person. Took interest in me, my family, my job etc. I just always felt like I could be myself around him.

He made me laugh, made me feel special as well as (not sure if it’s relevant) making me feel so comfortable during sex. I’ve only had a few sexual partners over the years but he has been the only one who has made me feel sexy and given me the confidence to just not care. For example, I would never take my top off (really not happy with my stomach after gaining a significant amount of weight) in front of men until I met him. He never pressured me into doing anything I didn’t feel comfortable with which is something that I have unfortunately experienced with previous partners.

Due to the fact that we lived 200 miles apart and both worked full time with very long hours during the week it became extremely difficult for the relationship to progress. We tried our best to devote weekends to each other as well as trying to find time for our families and friends as well. It was really hard. Maybe we should have anticipated this when we first met but we both just never realised how difficult it would be.

We were on and off for around a year. Sometimes we would go weeks without speaking to each other as we would both come to a mutual agreement that we lived too far apart for the relationship to ever progress, but one of us would always come back to the other in the end. The last time this happened, he contacted me to say he missed me so much and that he always thought about me. We finally stopped speaking around 3 months ago and it has made me feel so shit. I miss him and spending time with him so much.
I keep looking at his whats app picture and it just makes me smile every time.

He doesn’t have Facebook or any social media (except whats app) which I think is a good thing really as otherwise I’d probably be looking at those as well which would drive me crazy. (I promise I’m not a stalker!). I’ve thought about reaching out and contacting him a couple of times but then I keep telling myself, “if he wanted to be with me, he would” and “if he wanted to talk to me, he would”. After all, he did contact me the last time so I know he’s capable of expressing his feelings when he wants to.

I also appreciate the fact that it’s been 3 months since we last spoke and he could of possibly met someone else by now. How stupid would I look if I contacted him to express my feelings and he was with someone else, I think that would make me feel even worse. It’s not that I’m in love with him, because I don’t even think we had time to get to that point in the relationship, but I just know I could of been. I keep thinking if we had lived closer to each other things would of been so much easier for us. The last time we spoke he told me if we lived closer to each other he would of spent every day with me if he could. It’s frustrating that that’s the one reason why things can’t work for us.

The last time we saw each other he came down and took me out for a lovely meal. We talked for hours and again it was just so effortless. We didn’t even have to try. We just picked up from where we’d left off. I decided to join OLD again a couple of days ago and I’ve had a few messages since. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with these men, it’s just that I compare them to him and then I’m not interested. I’ve decided to delete my account tonight as I’m obviously not ready to move on just yet (not that I’ll contact him either) it’s just that I don’t want to waste their time by pretending that I’m even remotely interested in speaking to them or even dating them.

I was single for quite a few years until I met him so it’s not that I need a man to be happy as I’m quite content with being on my own and I do enjoy my own company. It’s just that, I think I could of been really happy with him had the circumstances been different.

How do I move on from this? Is it just with time that I’ll learn to let go?

Thanks for listening!

OP posts:
Coughy4u · 04/01/2020 22:37

Just message him. Life is too short.
You will either move on or restart things again depending on his response so you habe nothing to lose.
200 miles is nothing. There are people doing long distance relations for years.

Ididit2019 · 04/01/2020 22:40

Just do it, you're more likely to regret what you don't do than what you do. It all sounds so positive, hope it goes well.

mindutopia · 04/01/2020 22:48

If you both want it to work, you can absolutely make it work. 200 miles is barely any distance really, especially if neither of you have children? My dh and I were an 11 hour flight apart for most of the time we were dating. We only saw each other every 2-4 months (work and uni commitments made before we met were the reasons we were so far apart for those few years). We had an amazing time when we were together and had long conversations when we were apart. We only moved to live in the same place about 3 months before we got married and we’ve had a long, happy marriage so far. I think there is no reason not to reach out. Maybe just think about what you might do differently to make the most of your time together in the future if more comes of it.

anotherdisaster · 04/01/2020 22:52

Is there no way either of you could move closer?
If you feel that strongly then i would definitely reach out to him. You could just message and say you've been thinking of him and want to know how he is. If he has met someone else he will either not respond or tell you that. Nothing to lose.

silverpillows · 04/01/2020 22:59

Thank you so much for all your messages.

I've always had the attitude that if a man wanted to be with me then he would tell me but possibly he feels the same way about me hence why he hasn't been in contact? Who knows.

I know it sounds ridiculous and so silly but I think what's stopping me from contacting him is that if he has met someone else and tells me I would be so gutted deep down. Not that I don't want him to be happy of course but I'd just rather not know.

I also wonder if he'd even feel the same way now after so much time apart but (like all of you have pointed out) I won't know this unless I message him. I agree 200 miles isn't that far in hind sight especially since many other couples travel much further to keep a relationship going.

I feel so torn as to what to do.

OP posts:
silverpillows · 04/01/2020 23:02

I thought joining OLD and speaking to other people would take my mind off him, but it's done the complete opposite and now I think about him even more! Envy

OP posts:
myidentitymycrisis · 04/01/2020 23:03

Reach out to him and tell him how you feel. DP and I were on/off for over 30 years and we have always lived in separate countries. I contacted him again about 2 years ago and we are trying to make a go of it from a distance again, working towards living together.
We know we both want it so we are trying to make it happen.

It sound like you have a great connection with one another, don’t let it go to waste.

Coughy4u · 04/01/2020 23:06

He reached out to you before though and you agreed its not a viable relation. I think he showed he was interested though?

Guys who keep stalking after that are usually red flags. He may well have move on but you will always wonder if you do nothing. There will be more opportunities for him to fulfill the traditional 'pursuing' part like asking out, engagement, etc.

Flacker · 04/01/2020 23:14

Go for it. Yes it will feel shit if he says he's with someone but it definitely won't make you look stupid! The worst that can happen is he'll feel flattered but has moved on. How much worse will it feel if you never know what could've happened!

Bluerussian · 04/01/2020 23:15

It's still early enough in January for you to wish him a happy new year.

heyday · 04/01/2020 23:15

If you do find out he is seeing someone else then, even though it may be painful, you will at least have some closure. The longer you leave it the more time he will have to actually meet someone else. Just send a casual message to see how he is. You know you want to.

ErrmWTAF · 04/01/2020 23:16

You really don't think he's still married?...

silverpillows · 04/01/2020 23:36

Thinking it over. He hasn't been online since 2pm today so I doubt he'd look at his phone tonight if I messaged anyway.

I think I'm going to sleep on it and decide in the morning. I want to message him so badly though and I know your all right deep down. Life is too short. I think I'm just petrified of being rejected.

Definitely not married (and if he is then he's hidden it extremely well) as he use to face time me from his parents house whilst they were sat in the same room. He also came to stay in my home for around 4 days whilst on annual leave last year and never looked at his phone once (which I'm sure if he was married his wife would have contacted him during that time). No kids either.

OP posts:
Flacker · 11/01/2020 04:07

Did you text him op?

RantyAnty · 11/01/2020 04:21

Yes, did you text him?
Have you been to his? Met any of his friends and family? Just wondering what you really know about him.

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