Have you ever sent or received a Dear John letter?

[ValerieCupcake]

I have. Well it actually said Dear Andy but you know what I mean. He told everyone I had told him to drop dead in the letter. I hadn't and I agonised over what to say and felt rotten sending it too.

Those long ago days before dating apps [I've not used any] or ghosting or "hey you" texts after not hearing from someone for months.

Tell us your Dear John stories.

Are you a journalist?

No I am not a journalist. Honestly. I am just curious. I've been reading some old diaries.

I havn't done it in letter but I did it in person. Told my ex it wasn't him and I just wasnt ready to be in a relationship at that point. I didnt want to settle down and it was unfair to him to keep him hanging around. I needed some time to be alone and find out who I was etc. I wanted to work on my career and not have the distractions of a boyfriend. We would keep in touch and he was hopeful that one day we would be together, just not now. I then moved 500+ miles away, met DH and was married 16 months later with DC 12 months after that. Ex and me still talk and hes now in his 40s and single still. When we were together he was just a bit needy and clingy. He also had a thing about wastage (not a bad trait, I know). He would ask to take away his leftovers from restaurant meals, and sometimes mine. . If we went to parties at university he would be the one to eat other peoples snacks then take his own home with him (along with the leftovers of theirs if given half the chance). Our mutual friends called him Captain Tupperware.

I have to admit I did it because I hadn't got the bottle to tell him in person. I felt it was a mean thing to do and would be easier in a letter. Easier on me I think.

I got a 'Dear John' letter when I was young and in a long-distance relationship. Obviously it felt like the end of the world at the time but I eventually got over it.