I have a similar story. But yours is so much better written than I could do. Brought back great memories from long ago. 2004.

With us, not a one night stand but instead a 6 year relationship. As you say, doing a relationship takes work and consistently making the right choices. Which sadly neither of us did.

But the odds of our meeting were maybe more improbable than yours.

I alway considered it a gift from the universe. We really never would have met in any other way.

She ended it in 2010 and she hasn’t chosen to have any contact. I will always miss her. Obviously, she doesn’t share my sentiments.

I will always wonder what our lives would be like today had we been able to get through that bump in the road.

It has been 9 years.

I still hope lightning will strike twice, but I wish I was more optimistic. It took 56 years the first time. I don’t have that much time left.