The Person They Loved Married Someone Else. But This Was The Worst Part.

"When Clara first learned that her college crush was getting married, she was heartbroken - because she wished it were the two of them tying the knot. They were friends in college, and this ex soon became Clara's first queer awakening. "[The crush] was strong enough that I had to admit it, or it would eat me alive," Clara, who asked to use a pseudonym for privacy, told HuffPost."

"Even if it's been years since you've had any contact with them, when you see them hit a milestone like getting married or moving to a new city, it can trigger past feelings and reignite hope that you didn't even realize you were holding on to. You can even be happily married to someone else and still experience waves of sadness, anger, guilt or regret. Sitka noted that all these emotions are normal."

Clara felt heartbroken when her college crush announced marriage, realizing she had imagined a shared future. The friendship in college became Clara's initial queer awakening, but fear of risking the friendship prevented early action. Years later, Clara confessed her feelings and learned they were not reciprocated, leaving lingering thoughts. The 'one that got away' narrative centers on regret over missed or unpursued relationships. Milestones in an ex's life can unexpectedly revive old emotions, producing sadness, anger, guilt, and frustration at missed opportunities. Romanticization of unrealized relationships can make perspective on actual compatibility difficult.

Read at HuffPost