Hi
Thanks for taking the time to read my message.
Back in March this year I was contacted by an ex boyfriend I dated briefly when I was working in Spain in my mid 20s. His message came completely out of the blue because, although we stayed relatively friendly and had met up when we both returned to the UK, we'd ceased contact after ending up in bed together one drunken evening, which was about 17 years ago. It was a long time ago but I think he basically disappeared and went off grid after that evening. I'm in my mid 40s now so a lot has happened since!
I guess I pushed that out of my mind and I was genuinely pleased and touched to hear from him. We messaged each other almost every day, catching up on what each of us had been up to for the last 17 or so years, but skirted round relationships and kids, until I finally asked him after almost a month of messages, and found out that like me he was single. We bonded over poor dating experiences and as time went by I fiunf myself really looking forward to his messages. We never really flirted but our messages were familiar, long and frequent.
When things started to open up in May I mentioned that I would be visiting family and friends in London (I'm in Cambs but I'm originally from the place that he lives now in London) and asked if he would like to meet up, which we did. I was instantly attracted to him when we met up and our conversation flowed really nicely. We were only able to meet for a few hours as was meeting up with friends and he seemed gutted that I couldn't stay out longer. I mentioned that I was going to be in London the following weekend so could meet then if he was available.
So we met the following Saturday for drinks and as the had pub closed early we went back to his place for another drink. We were sat chatting on the sofa when he leaned in to kiss me me. I backed away asking if it was a good idea, I didnt want random sex - not that he was a random but pre pandemic had had a few ONS which left me feeling empty.
Obviously I'd wanted to kiss and sleep with him but I had a real struggle during the pandemic and crisis beforehand where I was done with online dating as my experiences had been awful and filled with rejection but I did not voice this to him although had tried to intimate to him that I didnt want one off sex and wanted something more meaningful.
Anyway, the inevitable happened and we ended up sleeping together. The next day we flitted around the subject. I asked what was his motivation for getting in touch. I said as are messaging had progressed I'd felt a level of attraction and he said the same, hadn't set out for it to happen but that the attraction was still there. I asked if he wanted to continue seeing each other and he said he didn't know what he wanted and that me being so far away was an issue for him but wanted to see me again. I said I didn't know what I wanted either but enjoyed spending time with him and wanted to see what happened. I said that the distance wasn't an issue for me as I'm frequently in London seeing friends and family and because I WFH I can pretty much work anywhere. He had to see family in the afternoon so we said our goodbyes but was pleased to see he'd messaged me on my way home.
We sent each other a few emails that week but the tone of his messages seemed different, a lot shorter and longer gaps in between each message. A week passed and I said that I was going to be in London for the weekend and wanted to know if he was free. He said he wasn't as had a leaving do at work and seeing a friend on the Saturday. I didn't push it but started to feel quite anxious. Every time I suggested meeting up he said he was busy but felt reassured a little when he said stuff like, can you do mid-week etc. When i said i could, he turned round and said he could no longer do that as he had to get up stupidly early. I persevered but obviously starting to get confused and anxious at this point. When I had plans to go to London he was always busy, the last time his excuse being that he was spending the weekend at his parents as he felt he needed to spend more time with them after a year of covid. I said that was really nice and I suggested we could meet on the Fri if that worked for him, and said, 'assuming you do want to meet up?' HE replied straightaway and apologised for being unavailable, but said that he wanted to go after work on the Friday to maximise his time there, but could see if he could try to get away early on the Sunday and visit me in Cambs. I explained I would be in London so that weekend as out on the Saturday night and didn't want him to change his plans but if he was able to get away I could meet him there rather than him travel from Kent to London to Cambs and then back to London all in the same day! He was insistent that he would try to come to me to apologise for being so crap and unavailable and didn't want me hanging around in London on the Sunday when it was highly likely that he'd have to cancel. Weird eh? I said it was no trouble as would be staying at my dad's and catching up with him and anyway, he'd have an idea or not if he was able to get away in the morning so all good. I found this exchange really confusing; he was basically telling me that he would cancel! So on the Saturday evening he basically sent me a very short message saying that he was sorry but Sunday wouldn't be possible now. I began to wonder I'd he was on a date and because things were going well knew or at least hoped, that he would be otherwise occupied on the Sunday morning! I dont know, it's plausible isn't it?! I was expecting it but was so upset to receive and seemed so cold and not like the long messages we'd sent each other for month's before. Another reason for me to think he was seeing someone else - it was though he'd quickly sent it whilst in the loo or something! I left it a few days before replying - at one stage I told myself not to reply and to leave it. He was really screwing with my head and I didn't know what was going on. I obviously feel he's been stringing me along but then I end up questioning that as he comes up with other suggestions to meet to which he then takes off the table - got to get up early; seeing parents again etc. Is it just a big game to him?
Because I'm pathetic I message him and say that I'm away the weekend with friends but will be travelling from London on the friday morning and as I was driving down on the Thursday that would be an opportunity to meet? I couldn't have a late one but it would be nice to have a quick drink? He replied and said he had to get up really early on the Friday but also said that he's not feeling sociable and that lots of things had combined to make him a bit depressed, job is crap, family problems etc and apologised if it's making him seem offish. I offered my support and said that I was always around to lend an ear but voiced my concerns that I might be stressing him out by asking him if he wants to meet up all the time, going on to say that I was really pleased we'd reconnected and that I valued him as a friend (which I do - if it didnt work out for us romantically I would still want him in my life) and that I'd enjoyed chatting and seeing him these last few months. I didn't hear back from him until the Sunday evening when I was on my way back from break. He thanked me for my support and said that he was feeling burnt out but said I wasn't contributing to his stress but was worried that I was getting pissed off with him for always being unavailable. He also said that he was really pleased we'd reconnected and valued my friendship and didn't want to f* things up come what may. He also asked if I'd had a nice time away which was nice as hadn't really acknowledged it or shown any interest in previous messages. I replied the following day again offering support, saying I didn't know exactly how he was feeling but could relate a little and said that I was sad he has all these worries. Told him about my weekend away and just made general chit chat. That was over 10 days ago now and he hasn't replied so wondering if he ever will.
I don't doubt that he has all these worries going on. Normal worries aside it's been a particularly anxiety inducing time this past 15 months or so and I have bucket loads of empathy for anyone going through depression. But have I been pursuing someone who ultimately doesn't want to see me again? Is it a case of 'he's just not that into you' and he's making excuses each time do as not to hurt my feelings. I would much prefer honesty as I would know where I stand because at the moment my head is all over the place, thoughts in my head oscillating between confusion, anger, sadness and worry (for him). What should I do? Give it up as a case of another bad experience? Or wait a few weeks and check in with him to see how he's feeling? Because I'm feeling a multitude of different emotions I'm also feeling angry. Why is he treating me like this? If he doesn't want to see me again why doesn't he just be open and honest? I guess whsts hurt me more I'd that we have history, he's not just some guy from tinder, so would expect him to communicate with me rather than ignore me and mess with my head!
Thanks for reading my super long post and hope it's not been too confusing to read!