Brooke Balentine

What Makes You The One That Got Away, Based On Your Birth Month

Some people don’t just leave relationships, they leave impressions that linger long after they’re gone. Psychologists often describe this as emotional imprinting, where certain traits like emotional intensity, consistency, or novelty become strongly associated with a person, making them hard to replace in memory. Being “the one that got away” is not always about being perfect. It is about being memorable in a way that shifts how someone sees love, connection, or themselves afterward. Read on to see what makes each birth month unforgettable in love.

April

When you’re in love, your significant other becomes your prized possession, and in return you open up to them and let them come along for the ride in the adventure that is your life — and let’s be honest, your life truly is an adventure. You are the risk-taker, the explorer, and you love nothing more than to share your experiences with the one you adore. It’s not always the most easy-going relationship, but what is life without a few fireworks? You know there needs to be some conflict for there to be passion. When you decide to move on from a lover, they’ll inevitably miss the spontaneity you brought into their life, as well as the fiery, sometimes obsessive romance you sparked within them.

May

You love luxury, both for yourself and the people in your life. When you love someone, you’ll go out of your way to give them the finer things in life — you love surprising your significant other with the perfect gift and want them to feel as secure and loved as you feel. You may not always come off as a romantic, but when you’re in love, you’re the definition of one. You like seeing your partner happy, especially if you’re the one who made them that way (and trust me, you do plenty to make sure they’re happy). You love the way you do everything else — stubbornly and steadfastly, and you’re not one to give up easily. Your past lovers will have a hard time finding that in someone else, and they’ll always wonder if they missed out on the best thing they ever had.

June

Oh, how misunderstood you are. Rarely do people realize the true romantic that hides behind your flirty façade. You may not seem like the one to settle down, but once you choose someone, they’re your ride or die. Your spontaneous, playful personality keeps your relationships feeling fresh and new — every day is an adventure with you, and your significant others may find themselves wanting to spend more time with you than you have to give to them. Don’t be surprised if you hear your ex is still hung up on you even years later — loving you may have been an emotional rollercoaster, but they haven’t found anyone else that made falling in love so fun.

July

You are one of the most sensitive birth months of all, so is it any surprise that you leave people second guessing the way things ended? You’re like a warm cup of tea on a snowy day — comforting and cozy. As one of the most domestic birth months of the year, you built your heart into a house and let your loved ones live in it. Once someone proves they belong in your life, you offer protection and warmth that is nearly unmatchable, and your significant other quickly becomes your top priority. Your past partners may fall in love with someone else later down the line, but they’ll always think about how they were never quite able to find someone who made them feel as loved as you did.

August

You may love the limelight, but when you’re in love, you’re willing to share it with your ride or die. You may act like you don’t need anyone else, but the moment you’re in love, your significant other becomes your prized possession. You’re so proud of everything they do and you’re not afraid to yell it from the rooftops so that everyone knows. This kind of love is not for the faint of heart (or for the less showy), but it can be addicting to the right person — after all, what’s more exciting than becoming the main role in the production that is someone born in August’s life? It’s no wonder your exes always seem to pop up every now and then, whether it’s via text or a like on your Instagram. They’ll always miss what it was like to be the sun in your solar system.

September

It’s not always easy to be in love with a perfectionist, but you make it worth it. You may not be particularly dramatic — or even sentimental — in love, but once you find the right person, you’re devoted. You’re perfect for those who might feel insecure in relationships, because you rarely give them a reason to be jealous and you’re 100 percent straightforward about it. You’re incredibly loyal and warm toward those you care about (despite what others might think, you can be like a giant teddy bear), and you’ll go out of your way to make sure your partner is happy and healthy. Your exes might say you weren’t the most interesting lover, but they’ll always secretly miss how secure and prioritized you made them feel — and trust me, that’s something they’ll rarely find anywhere else.

October

You completely change in love — while you may seem level-headed and independent on an everyday basis, once you find someone that makes you happy, you’re head over heels. You love making your partners happy and you’ll bend over backwards to do it, whether that means cooking them their favorite meal or throwing together a surprise party just to see them smile. However, you’re rarely overbearing about it — you’re easygoing, and you’re not likely to make your loved ones feel suffocated. Who wouldn’t want to be with someone as loving and attentive as you are? Don’t be surprised that your past lovers still talk to their friends about how they made a mistake by letting you go.

November

There’s something so magnetic about you. You draw people in without them really understanding why — you’re a mystery, even to your loved ones. You may seem aloof to some, but you love deeply and faithfully — once you’re in, you’re all in. Your intensity might scare people off, but the right person knows the kind of love someone born in November can offer is something rare and precious, like lightning in a bottle. People may find themselves falling into a serious relationship with you faster than they can truly comprehend it, and when it’s over, they’ll look back and wonder if it really happened at all — and though it may seem like a dream to them, trust me, it’ll be completely unforgettable.

December

You’re a true free spirit, and it shows even in love. It can be hard to keep up with you sometimes, but when someone is able to, they’ll find their life has been transformed into a life-altering, fast-paced adventure. And just like with life, once you fall in love, you dive in headfirst. You’re incredibly generous and tend to see the world through rose-colored lenses, and your extreme optimism makes the world so much more beautiful to your partner. Once you’ve moved on from them, they’ll realize life is pretty lackluster without you, and they’ll always wonder about the adventure their life could have been if they could’ve found a way to hold onto you.

January

You might seem detached at first, but the truth is once you fall in love, you love deeply and steadfastly. You aren’t pegged by many as a romantic, but few are more genuinely caring and considerate to their significant others than you are. Once you decide to be with someone, you’re not easily moved, and you’ll become your partner’s rock through the whirlwind that is life. Trust me — there is rarely something more comforting than a devoted January, who shows their love through actions. You want your lover to have the finer things in life, and you’re genuinely excited to build a life with the person you love. It’s the sort of love people don’t realize they’ll miss until it’s gone, but once it’s gone, it’s the one they won’t be able to ever forget.

February

You can be quirky and off-beat, but that’s one of your greatest appeals in love. Everyone loves a rebel, and you’re no exception. You’re an independent person who guards your feelings, but you always inevitably attract someone with your openness and unconventional humor — people find themselves wanting to get to know you even if you don’t always know how to open up to them. Maybe that’s why you don’t just expect love out of a partner — you also expect a best friend who can peel back all of your layers and learn to love each one. Of course, that’s one of the hardest things for your exes to cope with once the relationship ends — they didn’t just lose their lover, but their best friend and partner-in-crime. Don’t be surprised if they want to give things another try — and then another, and then another.

March

You’re a true romantic in every sense, even if you don’t always want to admit it. Once you fall in love, you’ll do anything for your partner, because nothing makes you happier than seeing them happy, too. You become emotionally involved quickly and get swept away in romance, and your partners will find that they easily get lost in the relationship, too — you have a way of creating another world for you and your lover where only the two of you exist, full of passion and desire and unconditional love. Your exes might find it hard when the relationship is over and they’re forced to face reality again, and though they may not admit it, they’ll always miss the beautiful world you created just for them.