Almost Relationships Are Worse Than Getting Rejected
Almost relationships can break your heart harder than any flat-out rejection ever could. After all, when someone rejects you right away, at least you know where you stand with them. At least you’re getting the bandaid ripped off immediately instead of suffering. At least you can start your journey of moving on from this person because you know that you are never going to end up as a couple. You know that you shouldn’t spend any more time chasing after this person.
When you get stuck in an almost relationship, the rejection is drawn out and slow. Your heart breaks little by little. It breaks every time they leave you on read. Every time they flirt with someone else. Every time they cancel plans. Every time they make an excuse about how they really like you but aren’t ready to take that next step with you.
When you get stuck in an almost relationship, you have a long time to wonder why they seem so interested in you but aren’t willing to date you. Did you do something wrong? Is there something you’re lacking? Should you be texting them more? Or texting them less? You start second guessing everything about yourself. At least when you’re rejected on the spot, you can tell yourself that you were a bad match. But when you’re in an almost relationship with strong chemistry and a blossoming friendship, it’s hard to figure out why the hell it isn’t developing into something more.
When you get stuck in an almost relationship, you’re in a constant state of confusion. The highs are extremely high, but the lows are extremely low. Every other day, you have to piece together their mixed signals and try to decipher whether they want to date you too or whether they’re only stringing you along. You need to do your best to figure out what they’re thinking because they never come right out and tell you. They speak in riddles. Or they make promises they break. Their actions rarely match their words so it’s hard to figure out where you stand with them.
When you get stuck in an almost relationship, you aren’t entirely sure whether you’re getting rejected or whether you should hold on a little longer. You don’t want to get impatient and walk away when this person needs a little more time. You don’t want to make them uncomfortable by rushing them along when they would rather move slowly. But you also don’t want to waste your time if they’re never going to be ready for a relationship. You don’t want to feel like a fool who stood by them, even though they weren’t giving you what you wanted.
Almost relationships are worse than rejection because they give you false hope. They make you believe that you’re going to end up living happily ever after with this person. They make you think that it’s only a matter of time before you make your label official. So you keep waiting and waiting – and get disappointed again and again. They keep promising you tomorrow but tomorrow never comes. There’s always another excuse. Or they drop off the face of the planet and leave you to pick up the pieces on your own. Either way, you end up with your heart broken so much worse than if they simply rejected you on day one.