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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

A message out of the blue

270 replies

WhatTheHellsGoingOn · 30/01/2026 05:07

NC’d.

I had a pretty weird experience yesterday evening.

Someone I deleted from my fb friends sent me a message in the morning, which I realised was a scam and not sent by her, then in the early evening I received a message request by a deleted ex BF.

This person dumped me over a decade and a half ago via voicemail (long distance relationship) then blocked me and deleted me from fb. I then got an email a few weeks later apologising for how he went about it etc, which I replied to, but he made no attempt to u-turn or rekindle the relationship, which was short, around 6 months.

Within a year or 2 I got random message requests on another platform which I would accept, then nothing. I felt like he wanted me to make the first move communication wise, which I was not prepared to do as I’d already accepted the requests, but then he’d do nothing. I suspected he was too cowardly to initiate conversation at the time in case I was angry, but who knows. He’d also done that weird poking thing on fb a couple of times, I can’t remember if he tried to request being friends again, like I say it was a long time ago.

A year or two after we split I noticed he’d put an ultrasound up as his profile picture on fb (back when that was a thing) and assumed he’d obviously happily moved on.

Anyway, no communication attempts for over 15 years. Then I received a message on fb today asking if I still have the same email address, saying he still had his and giving me his phone number and asking if we could talk on something other than fb. It was a short message but sounded like it may be urgent. I wasn’t sure if it was another scam but after speaking with a friend and wondering whether this was a cry for help I said yes I was using the same email and he replied straight away asking me to check my messages.

He’d written me an email a few hours earlier apologising for how he’d ended things and said that he’d written this message a hundred time over the last x amount of years etc. That he wanted to make sure I was ok and when you care about someone, that’s important. I mean ?

He said he just wanted to make sure I was ok and gave me his number again.

I’ve had messages by ppl who have dumped me before, (admittedly not almost 20 years after the event!) but this was seriously weird. I was going to ignore, but then I thought maybe it was one of several scenarios -
he had an STI he’d been told he needed to inform his exes about (I know this was unlikely and it hadn’t affected me),
he was newly single and looking up ppl from his past,
he had a daughter who was being treated shittily by a bf which had finally made him reflect and feel ashamed,
he or a close relative was dying or seriously ill and he wanted to make peace with events from his past,
or, as my friend suggested, he was drunk or high. But he’d first emailed at half 5 in the afternoon.

I also thought maybe he was suffering from MH issues and was at risk of self harm or suicide so I responded by text message to ask if something had happened. He’d suggested text or WhatsApp and I didn’t want him knowing when I was online etc so text seemed the better option.

He messaged straight away again, thanking me for responding. He then sent me a series of short messages saying he must have drafted the email a hundred times over the last x amount of years, he knew it seemed sudden to me but it wasn’t for him. He then asked me for ten minutes of my time - THIS WEEKEND! He asked if I still lived in the same place I did when we were going out and that he was available Saturday evening or the whole of Sunday.

He said he’d really appreciate 10 minutes to explain and afterwards I could walk away, yell at him etc. anything. But he said he’d waited 15+ years, he couldn’t wait another weekend and he didn’t want to say it over text.

I didn’t reply and 20 minutes later he sent a longer message asking me to pick a spot I’d feel comfortable and saying that if I’m in another country he’d buy a plane ticket, on another planet he’d build a rocket, that he’s dying to speak to me for ten minutes anywhere.

He signed off saying he’d buy me a coffee, a three course meal or the whole damn cafe. Wherever and however I wish.

I mean WTAF?

OP posts:
LushLemonTart · 30/01/2026 15:05

BitOutOfPractice · 30/01/2026 06:10

Typing all that must’ve taken longer than the relationship lasted. Why are you giving this so much headspace?

🤣

Seriously @WhatTheHellsGoingOn block him. He's looking for a shag or ego boost. I've had these dickhead messages. Tell him you're married.

InMyOodie · 30/01/2026 15:08

Why isn't his email apology enough for him? Does he want to see you sob (as if) when he says he dropped you because he'd met someone else?

I don't see how he could think you'd be a handy shag when he doesn't live close by. Unless he's to visit your area regularly for work.

TheSpidermanIsHavingMeForDinnerTonight · 30/01/2026 15:12

Gosh this has all resonated with me because my ex got in touch with me a few weeks ago after 30 years! It's really done my head in and I've given him far more headspace then he deserves. And although part of me is desperate to speak to him and find out how he is, my self-preservation instinct kicked in and I blocked him. But I did take a screenshot of his profile picture. He looks so old, and that's really affected me because if he is then I must be too! But he is clearly still an arsehole.

NigellaWannabe1 · 30/01/2026 15:28

I wonder if now he’s split up with his kids’ mum, he might be in shitty accommodation and is looking for a kind ex to let them into their house…

LushLemonTart · 30/01/2026 15:55

NigellaWannabe1 · 30/01/2026 15:28

I wonder if now he’s split up with his kids’ mum, he might be in shitty accommodation and is looking for a kind ex to let them into their house…

Good point

justtheotheronemrswembley · 30/01/2026 16:00

He's probably done some wanky life-affirming men's healing course and he's been told to get closure on old relationships. I strongly suspect that this will be him 'explaining' to you that the reason his life turned out shit is because of everything you did wrong. That's why he had to break up with you and if only it wasn't all your fault, his life would have turned out lovely and you'd be together.

CruCru · 30/01/2026 16:04

NigellaWannabe1 · 30/01/2026 15:28

I wonder if now he’s split up with his kids’ mum, he might be in shitty accommodation and is looking for a kind ex to let them into their house…

Unfortunately this is quite plausible. I’ve known a few guys in this position - a couple asked a few completely inappropriate people if they could give them a room.

understandyourdilemma · 30/01/2026 16:16

TheSpidermanIsHavingMeForDinnerTonight · 30/01/2026 15:12

Gosh this has all resonated with me because my ex got in touch with me a few weeks ago after 30 years! It's really done my head in and I've given him far more headspace then he deserves. And although part of me is desperate to speak to him and find out how he is, my self-preservation instinct kicked in and I blocked him. But I did take a screenshot of his profile picture. He looks so old, and that's really affected me because if he is then I must be too! But he is clearly still an arsehole.

Yes, I get that (posted on the previous page). I think it's the tantalising return to our youth that is the danger. The feeling of vigour, indestructability, taking risks (because we had no real liabilities). It's a seductive move away from our currently creaking bodies and the burden of responsibilities. But it's a dangerous fantasy.

You did well to block him.

FofB · 30/01/2026 16:53

My 1st thought was he's after money......

It's hard to say no to someone in front of you if they give you a big sob story

WhatTheHellsGoingOn · 30/01/2026 17:13

FofB · 30/01/2026 16:53

My 1st thought was he's after money......

It's hard to say no to someone in front of you if they give you a big sob story

He could well be. I was advised to google him and the only info I found was he still works in his profession (at the time of it going on the website so who knows how recent) and it seemed he’s doing well. But a lot can happen in a short space of time. He didn’t mention his kids to me (mentioned on website) but told me he’s not on SM - so he may be trying to hide them. Unusual to have absolutely no SM presence aT our age. I’m not going to reply.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and responding x

OP posts:
mistymorninglight · 30/01/2026 19:28

WhatTheHellsGoingOn · 30/01/2026 17:13

He could well be. I was advised to google him and the only info I found was he still works in his profession (at the time of it going on the website so who knows how recent) and it seemed he’s doing well. But a lot can happen in a short space of time. He didn’t mention his kids to me (mentioned on website) but told me he’s not on SM - so he may be trying to hide them. Unusual to have absolutely no SM presence aT our age. I’m not going to reply.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and responding x

I just want to say OP- I am so proud of you!

Its so hard when you've been in a relationship with someone with narc tendencies - you always think it was your fault and that you should always have sympathy for them and yet at the back of your mind it nags that they never seem to care about your feelings.

Well done for putting yourself first for once! Long may it continue

WhatTheHellsGoingOn · 30/01/2026 19:35

mistymorninglight · 30/01/2026 19:28

I just want to say OP- I am so proud of you!

Its so hard when you've been in a relationship with someone with narc tendencies - you always think it was your fault and that you should always have sympathy for them and yet at the back of your mind it nags that they never seem to care about your feelings.

Well done for putting yourself first for once! Long may it continue

Thank you so much for this, it’s really kind x

OP posts:
Whenwillthiscoughgo · 30/01/2026 19:54

Sorry op i’m so confused, you say he has no sm profiles whatsoever but he contacted you on Fb? or have I misunderstood

WhatTheHellsGoingOn · 30/01/2026 20:05

Whenwillthiscoughgo · 30/01/2026 19:54

Sorry op i’m so confused, you say he has no sm profiles whatsoever but he contacted you on Fb? or have I misunderstood

I think he came off fb before and he went on to try to make contact with me. I haven’t checked to see if his profile is active but he messaged me on messenger initially. I didn’t know he’d already sent me an email a few hours before.

OP posts:
WhatTheHellsGoingOn · 30/01/2026 20:07

WhatTheHellsGoingOn · 30/01/2026 20:05

I think he came off fb before and he went on to try to make contact with me. I haven’t checked to see if his profile is active but he messaged me on messenger initially. I didn’t know he’d already sent me an email a few hours before.

He told me hes not on SM so he couldn’t see whether I was happy or not. But as he has kids he hasn’t mentioned im guessing he’s trying to conceal his SM in case I found out before he told me. Maybe that’s the big thing he wanted to tell me in person. Who knows.

OP posts:
TheThingOnTheIce · 30/01/2026 20:12

You can have Facebook messenger without having an active facebook account as they are separate apps

WhatTheHellsGoingOn · 30/01/2026 20:30

TheThingOnTheIce · 30/01/2026 20:12

You can have Facebook messenger without having an active facebook account as they are separate apps

Yeah you’re right

OP posts:
WhatTheHellsGoingOn · 30/01/2026 20:31

He last messaged 8am this morning and I hadn’t replied to any of his previous text messages so I think he’ll leave me alone now

OP posts:
MeTooOverHere · 30/01/2026 21:57

WhatTheHellsGoingOn · 30/01/2026 06:37

I can see why you’d think that but I feel nothing for him romantically, I’ve been in a relationship for almost the duration I split from this guy and I told him about the messages. He knows I’m not interested, if anything I felt pissed off and cringed when I read them, but I did feel strongly about him at the time and I never thought I’d hear from him again, so I’m wondering why not only has he reached out now, but in such an intense and urgent way.

Most ppl would drop a casual ‘hey, how you doing?’ type of message, but it sounds like he’s desperate to meet me in an extreme way, which is odd, and the fact he’s suggesting this weekend is mad. If he’d written at 2am it would make more sense, or around Xmas or NYE.

He’s not asked if I’m single so if he is after a shag it would be a wasted very long journey. It’s just weird and I was after peoples thoughts.

Yes it's weird. Very not-normal.
As someone else said, message him your thanks for the apology 15 years ago and wish him well, and then block him again.

Crystalovertherainbow · 30/01/2026 22:00

this is useless, dangerous and waste of time, unless you are desperate for some man's shenanigans

NewBeginnings77 · 30/01/2026 22:26

Could he have had a terminal diagnosis and be tying up any loose ends emotionally/with apologies maybe. Id be too curious to just leave it

TheSpidermanIsHavingMeForDinnerTonight · 31/01/2026 00:55

understandyourdilemma · 30/01/2026 16:16

Yes, I get that (posted on the previous page). I think it's the tantalising return to our youth that is the danger. The feeling of vigour, indestructability, taking risks (because we had no real liabilities). It's a seductive move away from our currently creaking bodies and the burden of responsibilities. But it's a dangerous fantasy.

You did well to block him.

You're right @understandyourdilemma, it is the return to that place that is enticing and I wonder if it is the same for you OP? You get taken back to that time and place when they contact you again and it's not where you are now. You just need a bit of time to centre yourself again - which it sounds like you are doing. I'm not there yet, I'm working on it though. Unfortunately for me my ex's actions have left a life-long imprint on my life so it's not so easy for me to move on. But I am trying and I will get there.

WhatTheHellsGoingOn · 31/01/2026 06:20

TheSpidermanIsHavingMeForDinnerTonight · 31/01/2026 00:55

You're right @understandyourdilemma, it is the return to that place that is enticing and I wonder if it is the same for you OP? You get taken back to that time and place when they contact you again and it's not where you are now. You just need a bit of time to centre yourself again - which it sounds like you are doing. I'm not there yet, I'm working on it though. Unfortunately for me my ex's actions have left a life-long imprint on my life so it's not so easy for me to move on. But I am trying and I will get there.

I’m sorry to hear you’ve been affected by something similar yourself. Thank you for your kind words, I hope you feel at peace with everything once again really soon. You will get there - how dare they decide to come back into our lives and rehash the past because it benefits them. They claim benevolent motives but it’s all for them, they are not doing it with the hopes of making our lives any better. It’s all for them.

Maybe they’re so deluded they actually believe we will benefit bc we have been yearning for them all these years and we will just pick up where we left off. Where they left us. The arrogance, self delusion and audacity they display is mind boggling. And pitiful.

OP posts:
WhatTheHellsGoingOn · 31/01/2026 06:36

Well he wrote back everybody. Between ten and half past last night. Bearing in mind the last time I responded to him was 24 hours before with a hell of a lot of messages from him in between that went unanswered.

He previously acknowledged I’d need more context and introductory chat to put my mind at ease (!) and as I hadn’t replied to his pleading (demanding) we meet THIS WEEKEND for him to pour his heart out to me, he gave up and wrote what he wanted to tell me by text. Most of it.

It sounds like (by his account) he has really suffered over the years and that I was his ‘one that got away’ (he didn’t use that exact phrase). He said he was a fool for ending it and that he regretted it a few seconds after he made the call. I could dispute this as he went on to write several emails providing numerous reasons for why he was ending it, some valid and I could see it from his perspective. The chief one seemed to be the distance. Which was fair enough. But he was closed to the idea of either of us moving. Again fair enough. I won’t go into my argument at the time.

He seems to have re-written our history together and is viewing it solely with rose-tinted glasses. He’s said that he’s been thinking of me this whole time and it’s sabotaged numerous relationships of his over the years. He’s dreamed of what our life would have been like together. etc.

He did NOT mention either of his children in this detailed message. Only to say that there was more, and a reason he could now contact me after all this time but it can wait (!!!)

OP posts:
bigboykitty · 31/01/2026 06:45

Urgh. He sounds so manipulative. So he's bullshitting about your relationship and how he really didn't want to break up and that has messed up all his other relationships? What a crock. He's also drip dropping bits of information and trying to use that to keep contact going and meet in person. He's also ignoring the fact that you're not engaging with his nonsense. Please consider blocking him. No explanation. Or if you must, just message saying you don't want to have any further contact at all.