Softsong:
No....he was 29 years younger than myself, and I felt that we had the best of what we could have in those years. We were good for each other.
I did not want to get involved romantically in the first place, (I wanted to remain penpal friends), but because of his relentless pursuit, I fooled myself into thinking that it would be o.k. for the longhaul. I came to want to believe.
Later, after I miscarried a baby due to my age, I felt it was unfair for him. I encouraged him to return to Poland to complete his MA, and see what would happen with us down the road. Part of me wanted him to return to me, and the other part wanted him to have a partner closer to his age.
The next summer he was to come back to the USA to spend the summer with me, but after a lot of back and forth in my mind and heart, I decided, no. I could tell that he was beginning to be attracted to a young lady in his class, and he was acting as though he did not like her at all. He was fighting the attraction to stay loyal. I figured, give them the summer, and they will be together. I was right, brokenhearted, and happy for him all at the same time.
She felt badly at first....that she stole my man....and wanted to write to me, wanted me to understand. I let her know that I understood and was happy for them. We became friends by email. She felt that he would always care about me and wanted us all to be on good terms.
They got married a few years later, and last year I went to visit them in Ireland after seven years had passed! I was nervous, but it was a wonderful reunion and I feel that they are happy and right for each other. The love I had is still there, but with no trace of romance.
