or; why I sometimes get hesitant to date.
I thought that I'd share the story of my ex-girlfriend here, just for fun. I'm not bitter; it happened too long ago for me to really care anymore, but it is a funny story, so here goes . . .
I met her back in 2002, when I first got to college. We lived in the same dorm, and I fell for her super-fast. We had a lot of fun; I cared a lot about this girl, and she cared a lot about me. But things were great for the few months that we spent together.
Then, I was getting ready to leave on my mission - two years in New Mexico. Now, when some people leave on their missions, they ask their significant others to "wait" for them while they're gone, so they can pick up where they left off (it hardly ever happens). So as I prepared to leave, I told her, "don't wait for me, go and date other people, and if we're supposed to be together, we will be."
And I left.
For the first eight months, she wrote me at least once a week, sometimes twice. Needless to say, I thought that all was well. I replied once a week as well, and I didn't worry about it much at all. She told me what was going on in her life, and how much she missed me! *sniff*
Then - I sent her a birthday package - quite a nice one, and especially on a missionary's small budget mind you - and then I didn't hear from her for three weeks. This was completely uncharacteristic, but I didn't worry too much. I figured, "she's just starting school again, I'm sure she's just busy."
Then came along September 14. I finally got a letter from her. It had hearts on the back of the envelope, so I thought for sure that all was well. Then I opened it. It started with the perfunctory greetings, and then came the second paragraph - "I have been dating, obviously!" And she proceeded to tell me how she was engaged to be married.
Needless to say, I was floored. I wrote her back, saying that I was happy for her, but that she should make sure that he's a better man than me, that he makes her happier than me, and that she loved him more than she ever loved me.
Eight days later I got the reply - and she told me that no, he was none of those things, so she called off the wedding.
She continued to write me often, and sent me a sizeable gift for my birthday - a blanket she made herself and drenched in my favorite perfume (how DARE she?!?!?!? 
) - and I thought that all was well once again.
And then the same thing happened! She was once again engaged! This time I told her to be happy and send me an invite (as my father always says, "one time - shame on you. Two times - shame on me for taking you back"). I thought that it was over.
Now, I'm not mad that she dated. I told her to, after all! Just that she didn't tell me until she was ENGAGED.
Three weeks later, she was wrting me again. Once again, another wedding had fallen through. I ignored her, and asked her to stop writing me.
This continued through the end of my mission. When I got home, she wanted to come over and say hi, and my silly little sister said she could! It was really awkward, and as she left, she gave me her phone number, and I promptly threw it away.
She tried another couple of times to get me to come and go out with her, but I spurned her advances. I had been hurt enough. Finally, she emailed me and told me we really needed to talk.
So I went up to Ogden, Utah to talk to her. When I walked into her apartment, she showed me around, and in her room, there was a wall with pictures of ME all over it!!!! (Maybe it was a shrine to the patron saint of undies . . . 
)
I told her that there was no us. There was no chance for anything between us. She cried. I felt bad, but I had to be honest. And I left, intending to never see her again.
I thought that would be the end, but I found out later that she was engaged, and I was happy for her. Then one day, I'm standing at the bus stop, waiting to go home from school, and he walks up to me. "Are you Braeden Jones?" he asked. I replied in the affirmative and HE PUNCHED ME IN THE FACE!!!!
I replied, "What the HELL was that for?!?!?!?"
He turned around and said, "That's for what you did to Nikki."
Huh. I just dumped her so YOU could marry her, and you're mad at ME?
So that's my story. I thought of going to the reception and punching him back, but I didn't want to leave in the back of a squad car. So now she's married and I say more power to her.
Oh well. Hope you liked it! 